government

Question 1

why did australia become a federation?

Answer 1

• for a better defence force
• improve trade
• nationalism (pride in country)

Question 2

what is the constitution?

Answer 2

• how australia is governed outlining the responsibility of the federal state
• can only be changed through referendum

Question 3

how can a referendum be successful

Answer 3

• by gaining a ‘yes’ vote by the majoirity of votes of people by majority of the states (double majority)

Question 4

federal gov responsibilities

Answer 4

• foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, defence, marriage and postal services

Question 5

state gov responsibilities

Question 6

local gov responsibilities

Question 7

federal government source of income

Answer 7

• receipts from income tax
• receipts from company tax

Question 8

whats a dictatorship?

Answer 8

• a form of government characterised by a single leader or group of leaders (North Korea, Russia)

Question 9

what is federation?

Answer 9

• was the process by which the six seperate colonies formed one nation. Aus became a federation in 1901

Question 10

how many changes to the constitution have been successful?

Answer 10

• only 8 changes to the constitution have been approved since 1900. 44 referendums have been held

Question 11

where is the federal government located?

Answer 11

• located in canberra

Question 12

where is the state government located?

Answer 12

• located in the capital city of each state (spring st, melbourne)

Question 13

where is the local government located?

Answer 13

• located in towns and cities across Australia

Question 14

state government source of income

Answer 14

• receipts from GST
• receipts from stamp duty

Question 15

local government source of income

Answer 15

• receipts from rates

Question 16

what is bi-cameral?

Answer 16

• Australia’s federal parliament and most state parliaments are bi-cameral, that is they have two houses (or chambers)- an Upper House and Lower House

Question 17

what house is more important?

Answer 17

• the lower house is more important as the party that wins the most seats in the Lower house will become the government, party that comes second is known as the opposition

Question 18

what is the lower house called

Answer 18

• House of Representatives

Question 19

what is the upper house called?

Answer 19

• Senate (represent the whole state)

Question 20

how many senators are there?

Answer 20

• 76 senators, 12 senators for each state, and 2 senators for each territory

Question 21

who represents the house of representatives?

Answer 21

• there are 151 members and each member represents a seperate electorate in Australia

Question 22

electorates

Answer 22

• currently 151 electorates & each has about 110,000 voters. size of electorate is based on population not land size. these voters vote for someone to represent there area in the house of reps

Question 23

how to form a government

Answer 23

• the political party that wins the majority of seats (majority of members elected) in the house of reps forms the government
• this party must win 76 seats in the house of reps.
• the leader of the political party that forms government becomes the Prime Minister

Question 24

why do political parties join together?

Answer 24

• someones two political parties join together (with similar views) to obtain majority of members in the house of reps
• this is called a coalition (eg. liberal party and national party) Labour party never forms a coalition

Question 25

what is the role of the opposition?

Answer 25

• to criticise the governments and try win back office

Question 26

what is the senates main function?

Answer 26

• safeguard the interest of all states
• to act as a ‘house of review’ (a proposed law called a bill passed by a house of reps must be passed by the senate before it can become a law)
• to represent the interest of voters

Question 27

what is the senate sometimes known as?

Answer 27

• the senate is sometimes known as the ‘states house’ as the equal representation (how many senators in each state/territory) was designed to protect the interest of the states