HASS CIVICS Flashcards
What are the names of the 2 chambers in Australia’s parliament?
House of Representatives
Senate
What are the colours of the two chambers?
House of Representatives is green, and it is based on the British House of Commons. The green represents the native eucalyptus.
The Senate is red and is based on the British House of Lords.
How many members in each chamber?
House of Reps has 151 members, each representing one geographic area of Australia
Senate has 76 members - 12 from each state and 2 from each territory.
Describe the layout of the chambers?
The chambers arw a horseshoe. Government representatives sit on the speaker/President’s right. Opposition representatives sit on the speaker/President’s left. Cross benchers (people who don’t belong to one of the two main parties) sit in the middle.
What are the 3 levels of government?
Local, state, federal
What are the different levels of government responsible for?
Local - public health, local roads, waste disposal, Parks, sports fields and swimming pools, Pet control
State- schools, hospitals, agriculture, Police, Public transport
Federal - social security, immigration, trade, Post, telephones and the internet, Defence
Why do we have three levels of government?
- To make sure that one decision making body doesn’t hold too much power
- So that decisions can be made at the appropriate level to address needs
- To meet the needs of diverse communities
Why do we have governments?
The government’s main job was to pass laws to keep us safe.
The government plays an important role in shaping our society and making sure that Australians have the services and safeguards we need.
What are the main types of governments around the world?
- Democracy
- Anarchy
- Monarchy
- Republic
- Dictatorship
Define the different types of government.
Dictatorship: Dictatorship rule by one person with supreme authority.
Pros: can be efficient
Cons: can be easily abused; results on loss of freedom
Anarchy: Anarchy is a form of society without rulers.
Pros: lots of freedom for people
Cons: can lead to chaos and conflict
Democracy: A system of government in which state power is vested in the people
Pros: people have power
Cons: can be slow to make change
Monarchy: A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, reigns as head of state for life or until abdication
Pros: stability
Cons: doesn’t represent the people
Republic: form of government where the people elect the country’s leader, and the leader is not a monarch
Pro: people have power
Cons: people can make bad decisions (Trump)
What is a constitution?
A set of rules that define how a country is governed
When and why did Australia get a constitution?
Australia’s constiution was created in 1901 to unite the 6 colonies into a federal system and define how power would be shared
Why is it important to have a constitution?
It is important to have a constitution because it establishes the fundamental law of a nation, defines the government’s structure and powers, and guarantees the rights of its citizens
What is the separation of powers in Australian government?
The separation of powers in Australia is the division of the Australian government into three branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary
Why do we have separation of powers?
Australia has a separation of powers to prevent any one group from having too much power and to ensure a fair government:
- Checks and balances: The separation of powers allows the three branches of government to act as checks and balances on each other.
- Prevents corruption: The separation of powers helps prevent corruption.
- Protects individual rights: The separation of powers protects individual rights.
How is separation of powers different to division of powers?
The separation of powers is a principle of government that divides power among three branches, while the division of powers is how power is shared between different levels of government
Define “legislative”, “executive” and “judiciary”
Legislative: Makes laws
Executive: Carries out and enforces laws
Judicial: Interprets laws and judges their application in individual cases
Which groups make up each branch of government?
LEGISLATURE: the chambers of parliament
EXECUTIVE: the ministers and the government departments and agencies they are responsible for;
JUDICIARY: the judges and courts.
What is the structure of Australia’s Federal Parliament?
The structure of Australia’s Parliament is bicameral, meaning it has two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives
What is the role of Australia’s Federal Parliament?
- Making laws
The Parliament has the power to make and change federal laws on certain matters, such as defense, foreign affairs, trade, and taxation. - Representing the people
The Parliament represents the interests, beliefs, and opinions of the Australian people. - Checking the government
The Parliament holds the government accountable for its actions, policies, and spending. - Forming the government
The Parliament is where the government is formed
Where is Federal Parliament located?
Canberra, ACT
Define bicameral:
a system of government where a legislature is divided into two separate houses
Define MP
MP is an abbreviation for Member of Parliament, a person who is elected to represent a specific area in a country’s parliament
Define Governor General
The Governor General is the representative of the King in Australia
Define Government
In Australia, the government is the party or coalition of parties that holds the majority of seats in the House of Representatives
Define Opposition
The Opposition is the party or group which has the greatest number of non-government Members in the House of Representatives
Define House of Representatives
Lower house in Australia’s bicameral parliament
Define Senate
Upper house in Australia’s bicameral parliament
Define Speaker
The Speaker is the main office holder in the House of Representatives. They are the House’s spokesperson, and they Chair its meetings
Define Hansard
The transcript of what is said in Parliament
What is the role of MPs?
Members of Parliament (MPs) in Australia have many roles, including:
- MPs represent the interests and views of the people in their electorate.
- MPs contribute to the law-making process by:
Proposing and debating laws
Voting on bills
What is the role of government?
The role of Government is to propose an idea that becomes a law if the Parliament votes for it and to then put these laws into action
What is the role of the opposition?
The opposition’s main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable.
What are the advantages of the bicameral system?
- Checks and balances: A bicameral system prevents the concentration of power in a single body, which can lead to abuse of power.
- Accountability: A second chamber can hold the first chamber accountable.
- Quality control: Two bodies with different makeups are required to consent to laws, which acts as a quality control mechanism
How do you change the Constitution?
The Australian Constitution can only be changed through a referendum.
The proposed change is approved if a majority of voters in a majority of states (at least four of the six states) vote YES, and a national majority of voters (more than 50% overall) also vote YES.
This is called a double majority.
It makes it hard to change the Constitution.
What is the different between a referendum and plebiscite?
A referendum is a vote of the Australian people on a proposed change to the Australian Constitution, while a plebiscite is a vote on an issue that does not affect the Constitution
Why is it a good thing that constiution is hard to change?
It creates stability.
It helps protect the rights of the states.
What was the 1967 referendum?
- Counted Aboriginal people as part of the population
- Acknowledged Aboriginal people as equal citizens
- Granted the federal government the power to make laws on behalf of Aboriginal people
It was successful
What was the 1999 referendum?
The first question asked whether Australia should become a republic,
The second question asked whether Australia should alter the Constitution to insert a preamble.
