government Flashcards
why did australia become a federation?
- for a better defence force
- improve trade
- nationalism (pride in country)
what is the constitution?
- how australia is governed outlining the responsibility of the federal state
- can only be changed through referendum
how can a referendum be successful
- by gaining a ‘yes’ vote by the majoirity of votes of people by majority of the states (double majority)
federal gov responsibilities
- foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, defence, marriage and postal services
state gov responsibilities
local gov responsibilities
federal government source of income
- receipts from income tax
- receipts from company tax
whats a dictatorship?
- a form of government characterised by a single leader or group of leaders (North Korea, Russia)
what is federation?
- was the process by which the six seperate colonies formed one nation. Aus became a federation in 1901
how many changes to the constitution have been successful?
- only 8 changes to the constitution have been approved since 1900. 44 referendums have been held
where is the federal government located?
- located in canberra
where is the state government located?
- located in the capital city of each state (spring st, melbourne)
where is the local government located?
- located in towns and cities across Australia
state government source of income
- receipts from GST
- receipts from stamp duty
local government source of income
- receipts from rates
what is bi-cameral?
- 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
what house is more important?
- 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
what is the lower house called
- House of Representatives
what is the upper house called?
- Senate (represent the whole state)
how many senators are there?
- 76 senators, 12 senators for each state, and 2 senators for each territory
who represents the house of representatives?
- there are 151 members and each member represents a seperate electorate in Australia
electorates
- 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
how to form a government
- 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
why do political parties join together?
- 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
what is the role of the opposition?
- to criticise the governments and try win back office
what is the senates main function?
- 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
what is the senate sometimes known as?
- 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
