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z Global Politics > Liberal Democracies > Flashcards

Liberal Democracies Flashcards

1
Q

What is a liberal democracy?

A

A political system that fuses aspects of liberal values and democratic political processes

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2
Q

What is liberalism?

A

Political ideology centered on the idea that society is made up of individuals who should be free to pursue their own interests

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3
Q

What is democracy?

A

System on gov in which the people hold power either directly or through elected representatives

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4
Q

What are some key democratic features of a liberal democracy?

A

legal systems
universal suffrage
representative institutions
rule of law
separation of powers

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5
Q

What are some key liberal features of a liberal democracy?

A

free market
separation of powers
pluralistic society

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6
Q

What are liberal democracies committed to upholding?

A

Fundamental individual human rights and freedoms

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7
Q

How are freedoms and liberties respected in a liberal democracy?

A

In law or a constitutional bill of rights

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8
Q

How are legal and political systems designed?

A

To defend and promote the rights of individuals

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9
Q

Negative liberty

A

Absence of obstacles without constraints on one’s actions

Being able to do what you want without any external interference

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10
Q

What’s an example of negative liberty?

A

Freedom of religion
The ability to practice your religion without gov interference

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11
Q

Positive liberty

A

The capacity to take control of one’s life

The possession of power and resources to achieve one’s goals or become self sufficient

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12
Q

What’s an example of positive liberty?

A

Freedom to access a quality education, healthcare or social welfare payments

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13
Q

Do liberal democracies priorities positive or negative liberties?

A

negative

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14
Q

Are positive or negative liberties easier to protect and uphold?

A

negative

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15
Q

Do positive or negative liberties provide individuals with less choice?

A

positive

(negative provides greater choice)

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16
Q

How can positive liberties restrict other liberties?

A

Restrict some liberties for the favour of others because it requires the redistribution of resources, affirmative action laws or special considerations

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17
Q

How do limits in liberal democracies benefit society overall?

A

Ensures that one person exercising their freedom that they aren’t impinging on another person’s freedoms.

Eg freedom of speech is limited by anti-discrimination laws

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18
Q

Rule of Law

A

All citizens and institutions within a state should be held accountable to the same standard of law to ensure fairness

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19
Q

Laws are applied equally regardless of…

A

status, race, culture, religion

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20
Q

When implementing a rule of law, the society must follow what ideology/values?

A

Laws are known and accessible
Court systems resolve debates in open and partial manner
Innocent until proven guilty
Right to a fair trial
Punishment must be in accordance with the law

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21
Q

Is the freedom to own property a positive or negative liberty? Why?

A

Negative
No one can stop you if you have the funds
If you lack funds/money, that is an obstacle you have to overcome
No external body is preventing you from buying property

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22
Q

Is the freedom to receive welfare when employed a positive or negative liberty? Why?

A

Positive
Not everyone is entitled to it but some have capacity to receive it

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23
Q

Capacity

A

The freedom from constraint or limitation

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24
Q

Why is the separation of powers so important?

A

ensures that no single party has too much power

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25
Q

Why is it important that each branch of gov has different responsibilities to check/balance powers?

A

To prevent the abuse of power

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26
Q

Key features of the Legislative Branch (Parliament)

A

Responsible for making laws
design + debate legislation, pass laws
represent interests of local areas or interest groups (through elected representatives)
allocating funds and budgets

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27
Q

Key features of the Executive Branch (Gov)

A

Putting laws into action - administrating laws
daily tasks
implement gov policy and provide gov services
maintain public order + peace within states

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28
Q

Key features of Judicial Branch (Courts)

A

Applying the law in individual cases
make judgements about laws when disputes over its meaning
enforce law thru legal processes
determine whether a law is constitutional

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28
Q

What is a political compass?

A

A system used to clarify a person or party’s political beliefs

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29
Q

Left wing

A

gov should intervene to promote equality (equal outcomes)

wealth should be redistributed to those with less thru high taxes

laws that positively discriminate to allow disadvantaged groups more opportunity

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29
Q

Right wing

A

gov should not intervene in free markets to promote individual freedoms

free market forces, less gov regulation and lower tax

remove impediments to individual opportunity and prosperity

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30
Q

Left and right are beliefs about…

A

economics

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31
Q

Authoritarian and libertarian are beliefs about…

A

social attitudes

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32
Q

Authoritarian - social attitudes

A

favoring obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom

respect order + tradition, conservative values in regards to social issues

promote group identities based on shared values/culture

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33
Q

Libertarian - social issues

A

favouring personal freedom in private and social life rather than enforcing social rules

seek to overturn social norms and traditions that reduce personal liberty

promote individual identities based on race, gender etc

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34
Q

What is a constitutional monarchy?

A

Monarch exercises authority in accordance with a written or unwritten constitution

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35
Q

How does a constitutional monarchy differ from an absolute monarchy?

A

in an absolute monarchy, the monarch’s powers are limited by law

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36
Q

What is the Aus constitution?

A

A set of rules by which Aus is governed

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37
Q

Key features of the Aus constitution

A

describes composition, power, roles etc of federal parliament

details roles of how federal and states share powers to make laws

details roles of parliament, executive gov and high courtW

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38
Q

What needs to occur to change the constitution?

A

Constitutional Referendum

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39
Q

What are the houses of parliament and how many seats are in each?

A

House of Representatives - 151 seats
Senate - 76 seats

40
Q

Who does the HOR and Senate represent?

A

HOR - people/citizens (seats represent electorates)

Senate - states (12 each state, 2 for territories)

41
Q

What is the primary function of parliament?

A

make laws, scrutinize actions of the executive and represent the will of the people

42
Q

Who and What is the Governor General?

A

a person elected by the British monarch based on advice from Aus PM

holds executive power

commander chief of armed forces

must sign all legislation before it becomes a law

43
Q

What is a political party?

A

an organisation that represents a particular group of people or set of ideas

44
Q

What is the aim of a political party?

A

elect members to parliament and form gov so their ideas can be implemented

45
Q

What do political parties do?

A

contest elections, influence gov policies, provide opportunities for citizen participation

46
Q

How often are Aus federal elections held?

A

every 3 years

47
Q

When can a double dissolution be called?

A

if a bill fails to pass both houses of parliament 3 times

48
Q

What are Electoral Commissions?

A

impartial + independent agencies who update + maintain electoral roll, organise + conduct elections, draw electoral boundaries, provide funding to political parties

49
Q

How to Electoral Commissions ensure consistency across Aus?

A

create rules for conducting elections:
same ballot paper design, same voting method (pencil and paper), same process at polling places

50
Q

Compulsory voting policies in Aus

A

all citizens 18+ must be registered on the electoral roll with their current address

51
Q

Voting process for all citizens of election day

A

must have name crossed of electoral roll but don’t have to submit a valid vote

can get vote via post if unable to vote on election day

if you don’t vote, $20 fine

52
Q

Explain preferential voting? (used by HOR)

A

rank individual candidates by putting numbers in boxes (must fill all for it to be a valid vote)

if a candidate receives more than 50% of first preference votes, they automatically are elected

candidate with lowest vote is excluded then votes are transferred to their 2nd preferred option and keeps repeating until one candidate has 50%

53
Q

Explain proportional representation? (used by senate)

A

produce results in proportion to size of a party’s votes
eg 50% of vote = 50% of seats

multimember electorates (more than one candidate per region/state)

54
Q

Voting Above the Line

A

single row of boxes of parties

voter numbers boxes in order of preference

mark at least 6

55
Q

Voting Below the Line

A

candidates in separate, vertical lists, headed by group/party name

voters number boxes in order of preference

mark at least 12

56
Q

How are Senate election results determined?

A

Must secure certain number of votes to be elected (14.3% in states, 33.3% in territories) = quota

First count: anyone who achieved quote = elected

Surplus then transferred to next candidate according to preferences

57
Q

What were the issues with the 2022 election?

A

Inaction on climate change
Cost of living + economy
Gender equality + treatment of women
Leadership

58
Q

Why was inaction on climate change an issue in the 2022 electon?

A

most important for 1/3 of voters eg natural disasters
= voters who cared about this were disappointed with gov bc not doing enough

59
Q

Why was cost of living and economy an issue in the 2022 election?

A

increased prices putting pressure on households
war in Ukraine = restricted oil supplies = price increase for petrol and groceries

60
Q

Why was gender equality and treatment of women an issue in the 2022 election?

A

several members of parliament were accused of sexual misconduct or bullying

PM + senior ministers accused of not taking issue seriously

women severely underrepresented

61
Q

Why was leadership an issue in the 2022 election?

A

Scott Morrison = most unpopular leader since 1987
seen as out of touch and superficial

actions and statements increased perceptions that gov didn’t care

dismissive of issues

62
Q

2022 election results

A

15,460,808 votes cast = 89.74% voted
Lowest voter turnout since compulsory voting implemented

16% voters submitted postal vote
32% voted in pre polling booths

63
Q

What evidence is shown to suggest that there was a swing away from major parties?

A

Independents + minor parties = 12 seats of HOR
Greens got 4 HOR seats

Liberal suffered most: Coalition lost 17 seats

Labor had swing away but not enough to lose seats

64
Q

Coalition voters are typically…

A

older
low levels of education
live outside capital cities
higher household income

65
Q

Labor voters are typically…

A

Higher levels of education
Live in capital or regional citiesG

66
Q

Green voters are typically…

A

more likely to be female
born in Aus
no trade qualification

67
Q

Independent voters are typically…

A

high levels of education
live outside capital city
low household income

68
Q

Explain the racial demographic in America

A

333 million citizens
White = 60%
Hispanic = 18%
Black = 12.5%
Asian = 5.7%
Native American = 2%

69
Q

What has caused such racial diversity in America?

A

immigration

70
Q

What is the GDP per capita in America?

A

$59,500

71
Q

What is the value of America’s economy and how much of the world’s GDP does it make up?

A

$20.8 trillion
24% of world GDP

72
Q

What does the US Federal gov do?

A

make treaties, declare war, conduct foreign affairs, regulate trade + communication between states

73
Q

In what ways is the US state gov more powerful than Aus?

A

each state has its own constitution

responsible for conducting elections, welfare programs, welfare programs, minumim wage, working conditions

74
Q

How many local gov regions are there and what do they do?

A

3134 counties
local school boards, police + fire departments, district attorneys, courts + prisons

75
Q

The US federal executive consists of…

A

the president + vice president (elected through elections every 4 years for maximum term of 8)

Cabinet - appointed by president/not allowed to sit in congress

76
Q

What is the US Legislative branch called and what are its roles?

A

Congress
2 houses: HOR and Senate
HOR elected 2 years
Senate elected 6 years
Can impeach the president or supreme court justices

77
Q

What is the US Judicial branch called and what are its roles? How are judges elected?

A

Supreme Court
Judges = appointed by president and confirmed by congress
Serve for life but can retire
Make ruling on whether laws are consistent with the US constitution

78
Q

What is the US constitution?

A

the oldest written constitution in use and the first to outline liberal democratic values

79
Q

What is the purpose of the US constitiution?

A

limit gov power and secure individual liberties

80
Q

How to make amendments to state legislatures?

A

2/3 vote of both houses of congress or by convention called by 2/3 of seats

must be ratified by 3/4 of state legislature

81
Q

Can citizens vote on amendments?

A

No

82
Q

What is the Bill of Rights?

A

First 10 amendments that provide constitutional rights to ensure individual rights and freedoms are upheld effectively and harder to undermine

83
Q

How does the Bill of Rights reflect Americas values?

A

Values: freedom and individual rights

Source of political division

84
Q

Republican Party Ideology

A

conservative
less taxes +regulation on businesses
individual enterprise
family + christian values

85
Q

Republican power base groups and locations

A

Groups:
Evangelical Christians
Ppl living in rural areas
Ppl w/o uni degrees
Older Americans

Locations:
southern states
interior states
suburbs of larger cities
rural areas
Alaska

86
Q

Democratic party ideology

A

liberal
more gov spending on welfare
more tax on wealthy
progressive

87
Q

Democratic powerbase groups and locations

A

Groups:
racial minorities
ppl with uni degrees
ppl living in cities
young ppl

Locations:
northern states
pacific coast states
urban areas
Great Lakes region
Hawaii

88
Q

Are US Federal elections held on odd or even years?

A

even

89
Q

What day is US election held on?

A

“The Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November’

=less voter turnout bc midweek and ppl are busy

90
Q

When are state and local gov usually elected?

A

same time as federal elections

91
Q

What impacts does non compulsory voting have?

A

frequency + midweek = discourage ppl from coming out to vote
eg 2020 presidential election = 67%

US parties = extreme so focus on how many of your party supporters vote (political parties have to spend lots of money to convince and persuade ppl to vote)

92
Q

Who is responsible to running US state elections? What does this mean?

A

States run state elections
= inconsistency and big differences depending on where you live
= different electoral systems (preferential, run off etc)
= gerrymandering (rigging) the election can occur

93
Q

What does a candidate require to become a president?

A

US citizen born in the USA
over the age of 35

94
Q

What is the benefit of running for US elections the Feb-May the year before the election?

A

able to develop a national following
electorate can get to know them

95
Q

How many electors are there? US

A

538 (based on population)

96
Q

How does a candidate become elected via the electoral college system?

A

most votes in state gets the most electoral college votes
winner takes all - even if slight majority, all electoral college votes go to the majority vote and wins the most primaries in the party nominee

97
Q

When is the Party’s nominee confirmed?

A

at a National Convention in late August

98
Q

How is the electoral college system undemocratic?

A

it is possible to become president without winning most votes overall

winner takes all system

smaller rural states are over represented (advantage to Republican)

99
Q

What were the 3 main issues in the 2020 presidential campaign?

A

Health + covid 19
Donald Trump
Judicial appointments

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