Glossary - F Flashcards
Family Court
The court that deals with family matters such as divorce and related matters such as responsibility for children.
Family Group Conferencing
An alternative criminal post trial process where a defendant who accepts his/her guilt ‘resolves’ the crime through a group that included their family, close community and the victim. The group has the power to set sanctions that are agreed to by the defendant. A form of restorative justice.
Fascism
A political system based in a very powerful leader, state control and extreme pride in country and race, and in which political opposition is not allowed. The will of the leader is completely identified with the good of the nation. Considered the extreme right of political movements. Examples include Nazi Germany, Mussolini’s Italy and Franco’s Spain.
Fairly Safe Seats
A classification used by the Australian Electoral Commission to refer to seats in which the winning party holds between 56% and 60% of the two-party-preferred vote.
Federal Balance
A formal arrangement allocating the responsibilities of government between different levels of government in a federation.
Federal Court
A part of the hierarchy of commonwealth courts established under the authority of the Australian Constitution that hear civil and criminal disputes under commonwealth laws.
Federal Executive Council
A body consisting of the Queen’s representative (the Governor General or, in the case of the states, the Governor) and government ministers. The Federal Executive Council advises the Governor General and formally approves decisions made previously by parliament or the cabinet.
Federalism
A system of government in which the powers and responsibilities of government are divided between a national government and two or more state or regional governments. Federations require written constitutions to allow the settlement (usually by a constitutional court) of disputes over this division of powers. Examples include the United States, Canada and Australia.
Federation
The creation of a nation by uniting previously separate states, each if which retains some powers of self-government but also cedes some powers to a national government. An example is the creation in 1901 of a new nation, Australia, from the six Australian colonies.
Fillbuster
A tactic of using long speeches in parliament to delay a vote or decision. The use of guillotine provisions under Standing Orders of Australian parliaments makes fillbusters unusual. Sometimes possible in upper houses where less restrictive standing orders apply.
First-Past-The-Post Voting
A voting system in which the candidate with the largest number of votes is declared elected even if they receive less than half the votes cast.
First Reading
Part of the stages used when passing a bill in parliament.
Floodgating
The use of the government’s control of the parliamentary agenda and of Standing Orders (especially the enforcement of a strict guillotining of debate) to ensure the rapid passage of large amounts of executive legislation towards the end of a parliamentary session.
Franchise
A franchise is the right to vote. In Australian parliamentary elections the right to vote is normally granted to Australian citizens over the age of eighteen years. In the past the franchise was restricted. Many citizens, including men without property, women and indigenous people, could not vote. The right to vote is also called the suffrage. Manhood suffrage is the right to vote for all adult men. Female suffrage is the right to vote for all adult women.
Formal Vote
A ballot paper that has been correctly marked according to instructions and therefore can be counted towards the election result.
