Headstart

Question 1

What is Fairness?

Answer 1

Definition: all people can participate in the justice system and its processes should be impartial and open.

Question 2

What is Equality?

Answer 2

Definition: All people engaging in the justice system should be treated in the same way; if the same treatment creates disparity or disadvantage, adequate measures should be implemented, to allow all to engage with the justice system without disparity or disadvantage

Question 3

What is the definition of Access?

Answer 3

All people should be able to engage with the justice system and its processes on an informed basis.

Question 4

What is Justice?

Answer 4

Definition: there is no universal definition of justice.

Question 5

What is the definition of a Rule?

Answer 5

Non-legal rules. these are regulations/codes/policies made by private individuals or groups in society. they don’t originate from legal institutions such as parliament or the courts

Question 6

What is the definition of Law?

Answer 6

Laws are legal rules. they are made by legal institutions such as parliaments or the courts. features of laws include the fact that they apply to society but, are also enforceable by the courts and the police.

Question 7

How was Australia Federated?

Answer 7

Occurred on 1st Jan, 1901 after decades of debate and formal discussions by leaders of each colony concerning immigration policies, invasion and neighbouring nations not having a unified army, Aus asked permission from the UK to have the commonwealth of Australia, Est. 1900, made constitution on 1st jan.

Question 8

What is the Parliament?

Answer 8

The parliament is a formal assembly made up of representatives of people who are elected by the people to make laws, with the exception of the governor general/ governor who is appointed, there are 9 parliaments in Australia

Question 9

What is Social Cohesion?

Answer 9

Social cohesion is a term used to describe the willingness of members of a society to cooperate with each other in order to survive and prosper.

Question 10

Indicators of a socially cohesive society

Answer 10

-People can work and improve their education
-Individuals feel a sense of acceptance and belonging
- individuals are fairly treated and not discriminated against
-there is active and effective participation in government and community based organisations by community members
-legal system treats indviduals equally and promotes accessibility

Question 11

Indicators of a dysfunctional society

Answer 11

High Crime Statistics, Protests and high recidivism rates of prisoners

Question 12

How can individuals promote social cohesion

Answer 12

Individuals promote social cohesion by following the law ‘everyone doing their bit’

Question 13

How can the Law promote social cohesion

Answer 13

Laws
-Set up guidelines for what is acceptable
-Create boundaries to protect individuals
-Establish the ‘rule of law’

Question 14

How can the Legal system promote social cohesion

Answer 14

the Legal system promotes social cohesion by ensuring that instituions exists to effectively create, implement and enforce the law.

Question 15

What are the characteristics of an effective law?

Answer 15

1. reflects society’s values
2. are enforceable
3. are known
4. are clear and understood
5. are stable

Question 16

What is the Structure of Commonwealth Parliament

Answer 16

1.The King/Queen (Crown) repped by GG
2. Lower House (House of reps)
3.Upper House (The Senate)

Question 17

What is the House of Representatives (composition and role)

Answer 17

The House of Representatives includes 151 members representing the People of australia, each serving a period of three years, each having one electoral vote, with the most populated states having the majority of votes due to population density. HOR forms government with the political party with majority of members in the lower house forming government, with the leader becoming Prime Minister, as well as Holds the government accountable, with the the opposition (2nd largest party) challenging and questioning the government on matters, and HOR also introduces and passes proposed laws.

Question 18

What is the Senate (composition and role)

Answer 18

The Senate is the upper house of Commonwealth Parliament and consists of 76 senators, reviewing bills passed by House of Reps, Ensuring equal representation for the states by giving each state 12 senators for a periods of six years (except the mainland territories NT and ACT with 2 senators for three years) and Introduces and passes proposed laws

Question 19

Who is the Governor General and what do they do

Answer 19

The current Governor General of 2023 is David Hurley, the Governor General is the representative of the Crown (King or Queen) and gives Royal Assent to laws presented which has both passed the Lower and Upper House

Question 20

What is Statute Law

Answer 20

Law made by parliament is called statute law, acts of parliament or legislation. Before a bill becomes a law it must pass both houses and must receive a majority vote through several stages of each houses, then is presented to the Governor general to receive Royal Assent.

Question 21

What is the structure of Victorian Parliament?

Answer 21

The Crown (represented by Governor gen)
The legislative assembly (lower House)
the legislative council (upper house)

Question 22

Legislative assembly (composition and role)

Answer 22

comp: Vic divided electoral districts, there are 88 in vic and therefore 88 members in leglis. assembly, each member is elected for period of four years
role: Forms govt, politic party w maj members in lower house forms govt. leader becomes Premier of Victoria, prem. appoints ministers to diff portfolios eg housing police.III Also Holds govt accountable, 2nd largest party forms opposition

Question 23

Legislative Council (composition and role)

Answer 23

Comp: upper house of vic parla. vic divided into 8 regions, each has 11 districts, 5 elected from each region so 40 members sit in leg council.
role: review bills that have been passed by Legis. Assembly, also can also introduce and pass laws themselves.

Question 24

subordinate authorities

Answer 24

basically legislative bodies, known as delegated or subordinate legislation