Government

Question 1

What are exclusive powers?

Answer 1

Powers given specifically to the Federal Parliament in areas such as defence and foreign affairs

Question 2

What are exclusive powers written in to?

Answer 2

The Constitution, and state parliaments are not permitted to make laws in these areas

Question 3

What are residual powers?

Answer 3

Powers reserved only for the state which are not specified in the Constitution, such as education and criminal law

Question 4

What are concurrent powers?

Answer 4

Powers shared between the federal and state parliaments in areas such as marriage and taxation

Question 5

What happens when there is a conflict between federal and state parliaments?

Answer 5

The constitution states that federal law will overrule state law

Question 6

How many members are there in the Victorian state parliament?

Answer 6

A total of 128 elected members

Question 7

What is the system of government in Australia?

Answer 7

Constitutional monarchy

Question 8

What is the cabinet?

Answer 8

A small, powerful group of the most senior government ministers

Question 9

Who is the prime minister elected by?

Answer 9

The party with the majority of seats in the house of representatives

Question 10

What does bi=partisan mean?

Answer 10

Having the support of both political parties

Question 11

What is a back bencher?

Answer 11

A member of parliament with only responsibility to their electorate

Question 12

What are some responsibilities of the local council?

Answer 12

Local parks, housing and baby health centres

Question 13

What is a federal system of government?

Answer 13

One where there is a group of states with one central government that has powers in certain areas

Question 14

What is a shadow minister?

Answer 14

A member of the opposition with responsibility for challenging and reviewing the work of a government minister

Question 15

Prior to Federation in 1901, what was Australia made up of?

Answer 15

6 British colonies

Question 16

When did the Australian Constitution come into effect and whom was it created by?

Answer 16

1 January 1901, created by an Act of British Parliament

Question 17

After a federal election, how many seats must a party win in the house of representatives in order to form government?

Answer 17

76 seats

Question 18

What is the lower house of the Victorian government and how many people does it hold?

Answer 18

The legislative assembly, 88 people

Question 19

What is the upper house of the Victorian government and how many people does it hold?

Answer 19

The legislative council, 40 people

Question 20

What is the lower house of federal parliament and how many people does it hold?

Answer 20

House of representatives, 151 people

Question 21

What is the upper house of federal parliament and how many people does it hold?

Answer 21

Senate, 76 people- 12 from each state, 2 from each territory

Question 22

What is the main reason for the amount of PM’s in the last 10 years?

Answer 22

The party in power decided they no longer support their leader and forced a leadership spill

Question 23

What does a bi-cameral parliament consist of?

Answer 23

An upper and lower house?

Question 24

How can the liberal party still win an election despite there being more Labor party votes in Australia?

Answer 24

As long as they receive enough votes to win the majority of electorates in the country, the total number of votes does not matte

Question 25

What is an advantage of using petitions as a form of protest?

Answer 25

They can easily gather signatures and show support for a change in policy

Question 26

What is a disadvantage of using petitions as a form of protest?

Answer 26

Once submitted to parliament, the members of parliament are not obliged to act on the requested change

Question 27

Give examples of what the federal government would be responsible for?

Answer 27

Establish a new university in a Victorian town and providing assistance to Victorians who have lost their passport whilst travelling in Europe

Question 28

Give examples of what the state government would be responsible for?

Answer 28

Providing a pay rise to Victorian police officers, building a railway line to Tullamarine Airport and ensuring environmental hazards are removed afire major incidents

Question 29

Give examples of what the local government would be responsible for?

Answer 29

Building a new library within Boroondara and collecting and recycling household rubbish

Question 30

What is a constitutional monarchy?

Answer 30

A system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution, where the rights and responsibilities are spelled out in written law

Question 31

What is a constitution?

Answer 31

A set of basic laws or principles for a country that describes the rights and duties of its citizens and the way in which it is governed

Question 32

What is a communist state?

Answer 32

A system of government which is governed by a single party

Question 33

What is a republic?

Answer 33

A representative democracy in which people do not vote on legislation

Question 34

What is a monarchy?

Answer 34

A government in which the supreme power is held by a monarch

Question 35

What is a dictatorship?

Answer 35

A system of government in which a ruler wields absolute power and is not restricted by constitutions or laws

Question 36

What is the first step in changing the wording of the constitution?

Answer 36

A bill to change the constitution being passed by both houses of federal parliament

Question 37

What is the second step in changing the wording of the constitution?

Answer 37

The Governor General issuing a writ for a referendum question to be put before the voters

Question 38

What is the third step in changing the wording of the constitution?

Answer 38

The referendum proposal is voted on by all voters in Australia

Question 39

What is the final step in changing the wording of the constitution?

Answer 39

The wording of the constitution is changed if the referendum is successful