Government Flashcards
Examples of State Responsibilities?
Hospitals Schools Major Roads Forestry Railways Police Fire Brigade
What are examples of Federal Responsibilities
Employment Imports and Exports Immigration Pension Defence Force Post Passports and Immigration Income Tax
What was Federation?
Federation occurred on the 1st of January 1901, when the Australian colonies all united to become one nation.
It allowed the colonies to create one uniformed approach to national issues as well as creating the constitution.
What is this constitution you are referring to?
The constitution is a document that was created at federation that outlined the rules of how Australia was going to be run. It detailed the different responsibilities of the three levels of government and what needed to have a uniformed approach across the nation, such as immigration.
The only way to alter something that is in the constitution is to hold a referendum.
What are some examples of Local Government Responsibilities?
Library Maternal Child Health Libraries Local Pools Rubbish Animal control Rates Street Signs
How do you change the constitution?
To modify any aspect of the constitution is to hold a referendum. A referendum is a proposal to change the constitution. Every Australian voter gets a chance to say Yes/ No and for it to be successful there must be a double majority.
What is a double majority?
This is to have the majority of people in the majority of states saying Yes to the proposal. 50% + 1.
Only 8/44 have been successful.
What is the government?
A government is a system of political rule and administration over a society. It provides security, order, justice and public works while managing a nations economic resources.
What is a representative democracy?
This is a form of government where voters in an area elect individuals to represent them in parliament. The representative of the people must have a majority of the voters support in order to be elected. In Australia we have 150 electorates in which voters elect representatives to lead them in the HOR for their local area and federally.
What are policies?
Policies are courses of action adopted or pursued by the government.
What is the meaning of a Bicameral Government?
Bicameral refers to the fact that this government has two chambers of parliament, the lower and upper houses.
Where is government formed?
Government is formed in the House of Representatives by the political party that has the majority of seats. To have the majority means to have 50% of the seats plus one more. In the House of Representatives that is 75 + 1 seats!
Who is the Prime minister?
The prime minister is the head of the government and the leader of the executive government. He/She is the person that leads the party or parties that hold majority in the House of Representatives. As the prime minister in government they are the chief advisor to the Governor General. They are elected by their respective party.
Who is the Governor General?
The Governor General is the representative of the Queen in Australia. There role as the head of state includes
Giving royal assent for any laws made.
Dissolving parliament if needed to create a new election.
To be the spokesperson for the queen.
Be commander in chief for the defence force of the commonwealth.
Compare lower and upper house?
- 150 seats vs 76 and 88 vs 40
- both at federal and state level
- assigned differently upper house represent Australia evenly by states and lower house by population
- both can propose laws
