Part Three - Government and Law in Australia

Question 1

Who must vote in federal, state and territory elections in Australia?

Answer 1

Citizens aged 18 years or over

Question 2

Who is responsible for conducting federal elections and referendums?

Answer 2

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)

Question 3

What happens if you don’t vote?

Answer 3

You pay a fine

Question 4

Why do we have compulsory voting?

Answer 4

To ensure that people have a say on who governs them in parliament.

Question 5

How do you have your say in Australia?

Answer 5

1/ Voting in parliament
2/ Raising matters with your representative

Question 6

When was Australia federated becoming The Commonwealth of Australia

Answer 6

1st of January 1901

Question 7

Who voted (and when) on Australia’s constiution and becoming a federation?

Answer 7

The Australian constitution was passed as a part of British Parliament in 1900.

Question 8

What was the act of British Parliament called in 1900 that created The Commonwealth of Australia?

Answer 8

The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900

Question 9

What did the Australian constitution establish?

Answer 9

1/ Parliament of the COmmonwealth of Australia
2/ House of Representatives
3/ Senate
4/ High Court

Question 10

What is a “Double Majority?”

Answer 10

A referendum can only pass if both:
1/ The majority of voters in a majority of states vote in favour.
2/ The majority of voters across the nation vote in favour.

Question 11

What are the 3 branches of power/government in Australi?

Answer 11

1/ Legislative - power to make laws. (e.g. Parliament)
2/ Executive - power to put the laws into practice (e.g. prime minister, ministers and the Governor-General)
3/ Judicial - judges who interpret the law.

Question 12

Who is the head of state in Australia?

Answer 12

King Charles the 3rd

Question 13

Who represents King Charles in Australia?

Answer 13

The Governor General.
(Each state has a governor that represents the King)

Question 14

What is the role of the governor general?

Answer 14

1/ Signing all bills passed by government
2/ Performing ceremonial duties
3/ Approving the appointment of the Australian government and its miniters, federal judges and other officials.
4/ Starting the process for federal elections.
5/ Acting as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force.

Question 15

In a federal election what do Citizens vote for?

Answer 15

They vote for members of the house of representatives.

Question 16

What are the two houses of the Australian parliament?

Answer 16

1/ The House of Representatives
2/ The Senate

Question 17

What is the house of representatives also known as?

Answer 17

The Lower House or the People’s House

Question 18

How many members are there in the House of Representatives?

Answer 18

150

Question 19

What is the difference between Senators and Representatives?

Answer 19

The House of Representatives is where most legislation - called bills - originates before becoming law. But bills have to go through both houses of Parliament before they become law.

So once a bill is approved by the House of Reps, it then moves to the Senate for further debate and discussion. If the majority of Senators are cool with the bill, they’ll approve it, and it becomes law.

Question 20

What is the senate also know as?

Answer 20

1/ The Upper House
2/ The House of Review
3/ The State’s House.

Question 21

How many senators are ther?

Answer 21

76

Question 22

How many senators are there for each state?

Answer 22

12

Question 23

How many senators are there fore each territory?

Answer 23

2

Question 24

What are the 3 level of government?

Answer 24

1/ Australian Government.
2/ State and Territory Government
3/ Local Governments

Question 25

What is the Austrlaian Government responsible for?

Answer 25

1/ National economic management.
2/ Immigration and citizenship
3/ Employment assistance.
4/ Postal services and communication networks.
5/ Social security
6/ Defence
7/ Trade and commerce
8/ Airports and air safety
9/ Foreign affairs

Question 26

What is the state and territory government responsible for?

Answer 26

1/ Hospitals and health services
2/ Schools
3/ Roads and railways
4/ Forestry
5/ Police and ambulance services
6/ Public transport

Question 27

What are local governments responsible for?

Answer 27

1/ Street signs
2/ Local roads
3/ Drains
4/ Parks and playgrounds
5/ Camping grounds and caravan parks.
6/ Noise and animal control
7/ Food and meat inspection
8/ Rubbish collection
9/ Local libraries
10/ Certain child-care and aged-care issues
11/ Building permits
12/ Social planning
13/ Local environmental issues.

Question 28

How is the Austrlaian Government formed?

Answer 28

1/ The party with the most members in the house of representatives becomes the government
2/ The Prime Minister comes from this party.
3/ The Prime Minister recommends ministers for the Australian government.
4/ The Governor-General appoints the Prime Minister and the ministers.

Question 29

How are laws made in the Federal Government?

Answer 29

1/ Bills are proposed
2/ House of Representatives and the Senate consider, debate and vote on the bills.
3/ The majority of each house agree on the bill.
4/ The Bill goes to the Governor-General and is signed
5/ This process is called “Royal Assent”

Question 30

How are laws made in states in territories?

Answer 30

In a similar way to the federal government. (Royal Assent)

Question 31

How are laws enforced?

Answer 31

1/ The courts
2/ Judges and Magistrates
3/ Juries
4/ The Police