law and order exam revision Flashcards
What does the Commonwealth parliament do?
Makes laws for Australia as a whole and is the Prime Minister making the decisions.
What is the Victorian parliament?
Makes decisions for the state of Victoria and is the premier making decisions.
What is the Lower House? (2)
House of Representatives
Legislative assembly
What is the Upper House? (2)
Senate
Legislative council
How many members are in the house of reps?
151 members (commonwealth)
How many members are in the Legislative assembly?
88 members (vic)
How many members are in the senate?
76 members (commonwealth)
How many members are in the legislative council?
40 members (vic)
Who is the King’s Representative and who appoints them?
The Governor General (cwth) or Governor (vic) and they are appointed by the King.
How is a law made (9)
1st reading (1st)
2nd reading (1st)
consideration in detail (1st)
3rd reading (1st)
1st reading (2nd)
2nd reading (2nd)
consideration in detail (2nd)
3rd reading (2nd)
ROYAL ASSENT
What are some reasons for a law to change
- change in policy
- pressure from outside of parliament
- change in world
- different political party
What does the majority mean?
The majority of votes in both houses of parliament
How many votes do you need to pass a law?
You need half of of amount of people in the house (so if there is 88 people, then 44) plus one (so 45 votes to get the majority)
What is the balance of power?
It is the position held by minor parties or individual members of parliament when their vote is necessary for bills or motions to be passed.
What does the VLRC stand for?
Victorian Law Reform Commision
Can the VLRC change laws?
No, they cannot change laws, however, they make recommendations to Parliament on how they should change.
How old do you have to be to leave school without doing anything?
17
What if you are below 17 and want to leave school?
You must have finished year 10 and you have to spend at least 25 hours per week in a combo of education, training and employment
What age do you have to be to drink, buy or possess alcohol?
18
What is the possible fine for someone who supplies alcohol to a minor without a parent’s consent?
Up to $10,000
What are the 2 things you need to drink alcohol under 18 LEGALLY?
Parental consent and responsible supervision from whichever adult is in charge of the minor
What do people under the age of 18 involved in sexting activities get charged for?
Charged with either child pornography offences and they were treated the same as adult paedophiles
What is sexting officially called?
Distributing an intimate image
What is the maximum penalty for threatening to send an intimate image of a person to others
One year in jail
What is the enterprise agreement?
An agreement between the specific company/employer you work for and all of its workers
What is the FWO?
Fair work ombudsman
What does the FWO do? (3)
- Provides free assistance to workers who cannot solve their workplace issues
- Suggests solutions to fix the problems
- Takes bosses who breach your workplace rights to court
What does the FWO not do? (3)
- Orders bosses or workers to do things
- Fine people or send them to jail
- Resolve complaints where worker has not tried themselves to talk to their boss to solve things
What is the adversarial trial?
Contest between 2 teams infront of an impartial adjudicator to resolve conflicts
What is the first step of the pre-trial procedure?
Investigation and charging of the accused
What is the second step of the pre-trial procedure?
Collection of evidence and plea
What is the third step of the pre-trial procedure?
Committal
What are the 4 steps in the investigation and charging of the accused?
- crime is committed
- police attend the scene
- police gather evidence
- police charge the accused
What is the collection of evidence and plea? (3+1)
- process takes a very long time
1. police collect evidence
2. share evidence with prosecution and accused
3. accused pleads to charges
(if not guilty no case, if guilty moves to committal)
What is the committal hearing ?
pre-trial hearing for indictable offences which are going
to be tried in the County or Supreme Court where the accused has pleaded not guilty
- held in magistrates court
What are plea negotiations?
Discussions relating to the charges faced by the accused, discussed between the prosecution and the accused
What are the purposes of plea negotiations? (4)
- resolve the case quickly
- avoid the need for witnesses to suffer through the trauma of having to testify and be cross-examined
- manage the risk associated with a trial for both sides
- acelerate closure for victims
What is the purpose of a criminal trial?
determine the guilt or otherwise of the person charged with the crime
What is a hung jury?
a totally new trial with a new jury is heard
What is evidence?
Facts or information to support an assertion