Government Flashcards
3 arguments for compulsory voting
Gives us better results for parliament
All of Australia decides who leads the country
Necessary part of duties of citizenship
3 arguments against
Gets rid of number of informal ‘donkey votes’
Forces people to vote even if they don’t like any of the candidates
Citizens have the right to choose whether they want to vote
How is government formed
Federal election is held
The Prime Minister can change without a vote of the Australian people?
True
Knowledge of political parties such as Labor, Liberal, National and the Greens and their general values
Political parties:
Labor - better conditions, social welfare safety net, free health care (Medicare), progressive taxation (tax wealthy more than poor). Centre left - blue collar(factorie workers e.t.c)
Liberal - centre white - white collar (businesses and rich people), free market, free trade, economic growth e.t.c
National - right
Greens - environment, left, poor
What is an electorate
Area of Australia that is represented by a member of parliament elected to HOR.
How many electorates in HOR
151 electorates in HOR
How many electorates do you need to be won to form parliament
All 151 seats in the House of Representatives 76 seats are needed for a majority 40 (of the 76) seats in the Senate
How is a prime minister chosen
The leader of the party, or coalition (liberal nationals coalition), that has a majority in House of Representatives becomes Prime Minister
Requirements to vote in Australia
Australian citizen
18 years of age or older
How does Australian Preferential voting work
Voters vote for multiple candidates in order of their preference
They place a ‘1’ next to their preferred candidate
This is followed by a ‘2’ next to their second preferred candidate, and so on
To win seat candidates need 51% half plus one
WINNING ON FIRST PREFERENCES
If a candidate wins an absolute majority when the first preferences are counted (also called the primary vote), they are declared the winner and preferences do not need to be allocated.
WINNING ON PREFERENCES
If no one wins the seat on first preferences, preferences are distributed.
The candidate with fewest votes is eliminated and their second preferences are distributed to the remaining candidates.-
If no one still has an absolute majority, the candidate with the next fewest votes is eliminated and their preferences distributed.
The process is repeated until one candidate has an absolute majority
Informal votes and how these can occur
When the ballot paper has not been fully completed
Donkey vote
Completed incorrectly
The structure of democracy
Branches of power
legislative, executive and judicial
Legislative makes the law
Executive puts law into operation
Judicial interpret the laws
Role of the Governor General
Represents the queen in parliament.
is a member of the legislative and must sign bills for them to become law - signs off on legislation’
Ceremonial events - opening of parliament
Bicameral system
Two houses
Lower house - HOR
Upper house - SENATE
How the Senate is elected (state and territory representation)
Number of seats in the senate
Proportional voting
76 seats
The roles of parliament (one role is to make laws)
Making and changing federal laws
Representing people of Australia
Make laws
The process of a bill becoming a law
Idea
Cabinet develop policy
Bill drafted
Initiation - start
Introduced to parliament
First reading HOR
Second reading
Committee stage
Third
Passed by first house HOR
Intro to second house Senate (same steps)
Royal assent - governor general approving
Proclamation - announce law
New law
constituent
An electorate
The constitution – what it is and how it is able to be changed
a set of rules for governing a country.
The Australian Constitution can only be altered by referendum
What is the name of the founding document of Australian Democracy
The Australian Constitution
What is the main function of the Australian Constitution?
To set out the rules by which Australia is governed
Which of the following is NOT a key function of the Australian Constitution?
To establish Australia as a federation
How has the Constitution changed?
By a referendum
legislative
to pass laws
HOR
Senate
Parliament of Australia
Whole parliament
Governor general
Executive
to administer or implement laws
Prime minister
Cabinet
Ministers
Governor general
Judicial
to interpret laws
High court
Federal court
Other federal courts
HOR
Where government is formed
Preferential voting
Senate
The Senate is made up of 76 senators
Twelve senators represent each state
2 senators represent each territory.
Proportional representation
Minor parties - proportional representation
6 year terms
Preferential voting
Voters can indicate an order or preferences for candidates on ballot papers. I.e 1st choice, 2nd choice
Favours larger parties
Members serve for 3 years
Proportional representation
Minority parties
How is a referendum passed
If it is approved by a majority of Australians AND a majority of states
If it is approved by a ‘double majority’ - people majority and states majority- 4/6 states need to vote yes
How is a referendum passed
If it is approved by a majority of Australians AND a majority of states
If it is approved by a ‘double majority’ - people majority and states majority- 4/6 states need to vote yes
High court
interpret and apply the law of Australia
Levels of parliament
Federal - Immigration, marriage, taxation, defence, Laws for whole country
State - School, hospital, water, own state laws
Local - parks, rubbish, libraries, street signs, pet control
Differences between the Senate and HOR
Different types of voting- Preferential vs proportional
Amount of people,
state house vs people’s house
Both pass laws
Fixed term 6 years vs 3 years
Role of Federal Parliament
Represents interests of the people
Makes and proposes Australian law
Scrutinises the actions of the Government
Is where the government is formed
HOR roles
Is where government is formed
Decides matters of national interest
Represents the interests of people in their electorates
Proposes, debates and votes of bills and amendment examines issues in committees
Scrutinises executive government.
Senate roles
The role of the Senate is to represent states and territories, debate bills, decide
How many registered voters
100,000- around about
What does the HOR represent
The people’s house
What does the Senate represent
The states (6) and territories (2)
Parliament of Australia (Federal Parliament)
The Parliament consists of two Houses (the Senate and the House of Representatives), and the King, represented in Australia by the Governor General.
Governor General
The Governor-General of Australia is His Majesty The King’s representative. In practice, they are Australia’s Head of State and have a range of constitutional and ceremonial duties.
The Constitution
The basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it.
Separation of powers
Executive- pm/cabinet
Legislative- Parliament
Judicial- Courts
Helps limit corruption - 3 different places things has to go through
Limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another
Legislative
The legislature makes the laws
debate, pass, amend or reject bills.
Judiciary
The judiciary interprets the laws
Executive
The executive puts the laws into operation
Bicameral system
‘Bicameral’ literally means ‘two rooms’. In this case, a parliament or legislature that is made up of two separate houses or ‘chambers’. The two chambers are the Legislative Assembly, or Lower House, and the Legislative Council, or Upper House.
Front bench
Ministers and shadow ministers sit on the front row of the seats in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
Back bench
Backbenchers are members of parliament who are not ministers or shadow ministers; they sit in the rows of seats behind the frontbench.
Electorate
An electorate is a geographical area of Australia represented by a member of parliament elected to the House of Representatives. It is also known as an electoral division or division. There are 151 members in the House of Representatives and each of these members represents an electorate.
Political party
Three main parties in Australia - the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia, and the Nationals
collection of people who come together to contest elections and control the government. Leaders, engaged members, and supporters are the three main characteristics of a political party.
A Bill
Bills. A proposal for a law, or legislation, that is introduced into Parliament is called a bill. Bills are considered consecutively by the two houses of the Federal Parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
An Act of Parliament
An Act is a statute or law passed by both Houses of Parliament that has received Royal Assent.
An Act of Parliament is a law made by the Australian Parliament.
Prime Minister
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Australian Government. By convention - tradition - the Prime Minister is a member of the House of Representatives and leads the parliamentary party, or coalition of parties, with the support of the majority of members in the House.
Speaker
The Speaker makes sure that Members obey the rules (standing orders) of the House and follow the correct procedures.
Opposition Leader
The Leader of the Opposition is a member of parliament who leads the largest party, or coalition of parties, that is not in government.
Seat in Parliament
Another term for an electorate or division – used because the candidate elected then has a seat in parliament.
Minority Government
A minority government can be formed when a party or coalition, which does not have a majority of seats in its own right, is able to achieve a majority on the floor of the House with support from independent Members or minor parties.
Crossbenchers
crossbench. one of a set of seats for members of Parliament who belong to neither the government nor the opposition parties; seats for minor parties and independents.
Preferential Voting
Voters can indicate an order or preferences for candidates on ballot papers. I.e 1st choice, 2nd choice
Favours larger parties
Members serve for 3 years - HOR
Election
a formal and organised choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position.
Cabinet
A Cabinet is a group of important people in a government, who normally represent the head of government.
