Political Ideologies And Forms Of Government

Question 1

Separation of Powers (Australia)

Answer 1

Legislative
— legislate (make laws)
— made up of parliament (House of Representatives and the Senate)
— also includes the Governor General acting on behalf of the Queen

Executive
— administers the law
— Prime Minister (comes from HOR)
— Cabinet (senior ministers)
— Queen represented by Governor General

Judiciary
— enforces laws
— court system (high, supreme, district, magistrates)

Question 2

Rule of Law

Answer 2

• No one is above the law
• Everyone is treated equally under the law
• Law must be clear and understandable
• Must be effective ways of holding government officials accountable

Question 3

Sovereignty

Answer 3

Supreme authority to rule in an independent nation. Can be based on consent of the people (democracy), tradition (absolute monarchy), or religion (theocracy).

Question 4

Define Liberal Democracy and list the main principles of one

Answer 4

A liberal democracy is a political system in which democratically based institutions of government are constrained by liberal inspired constitutional arrangements, political practices and popular expectations that limit the scope and capacity of the government sector.

• Equality of political rights (everyone gets to vote and every vote is counted equally)
• Majority Rule (consent to govern based on the majority of the people)
• Political participation (free and fair elections, anyone can form a party, secret ballot, accessible voting and free media)
• Political freedom (political pluralism, no pressure to vote for or support a particular party or ideology)
• Accountable government (separation of powers and rule of law)

Question 5

Features of Federalism (4)

Answer 5

1. Two relatively autonomous levels of government
   — State and Federal
   — Both possess powers that the other can not encroach upon
   — They both have the capacity to raise revenue
2. Written Constitution
   — Responsibilities of both parties are codified in a constitution
   — Neither group can amend the constitution, only a referendum can
3. Constitutional Arbiter
   — Formal provisions of the constitution are interpreted by a supreme court (High Court in Aus) in case of dispute between state and federal governments
4. Linking Institutions
   — States must be given a voice in central policy making
   — This is carried out through bicameral legislature

Question 6

Characteristics of Legislative arm of government (North Korea)

Answer 6

Supreme People’s Assembly
— does not initiate legislation independently
— does not criticise, amend or refuse a bills
— elected every 5 years
— Article 88 of the constitution states that legislative power rests with the SPA
— Korean Workers Party approves a single list of candidates who stand for election unopposed
—Members are guaranteed inviolability and immunity from arrest

Question 7

Characteristics of Executive arm of government (North Korea)

Answer 7

President
— elected by the SPA
— no constitutional ability to remove or limit the presidents power
— judiciary are accountable to the president

Central People's Committee
— President is the head of the CPC
— Formal powers are all inclusive
— Directs the judiciary
— Members are elected by the SPA from the SPA

Question 8

Characteristics of Judicial arm of government (North Korea)

Answer 8

Courts and Judges
— selected by the executive (members of the CPC)
— legal education is not required
— main focus on political indoctrination

Question 9

Conservatism

Answer 9

— Value of stability and opposition to social change
— Defend tradition
— Belief in authority (ultimate authority resting in God)
— Oppose abstract ideas

Question 10

Liberalism

Answer 10

— democratic political ideology
— emphasises individual autonomy
— believe in limited government (separation of powers / rule of law)
— believes in the right of the individual: supports civil liberties and personal freedoms.

Question 11

Socialism

Answer 11

— political ideology
— seeks redistribution of resources to create a greater degree of equality
— believe that historically the wealthy have exploited the majority
— believe humans are naturally co-operative and that capitalism has made us competitive
— believe in democratic change to bring about economic equality

Question 12

Representative Democracy

Answer 12

— officials are elected by people to represent their interest in parliament
— democratic - representation establishes a reliable link between the government and the governed
— practical form of democracy
— relieves the ordinary persons stress of decision making
— elected officials may not accurately represent the will of the people
— creates disinfected voters
— voters aren’t knowledgeable about political matter and are distanced from the political process

Question 13

Direct Democracy

Answer 13

— heightens control citizens have over their future
— politically sophisticated and informed society
— allows public to expressive own views, opinions and interests
— if a citizen objects to a decision they may refuse to follow it
— logistically difficult, time consuming and expensive
— not everyone is capable of understanding the discussion they are making and the repercussion it would have

e.g Ancient Greece

Question 14

Absolute Monarchy

Answer 14

All legal powers rest in the decisions of an unelected monarch who held office on the basis of hereditary entitlement. (Non-democratic)

Question 15

Oligarchy

Answer 15

Non-democratic political system where power is held by a few powerful elites within society. E.g South American.

Question 16

Plutocracies

Answer 16

Oligarchy based on wealth.

Non-democratic

Question 17

Autocracy

Answer 17

Non-democratic system where all legal power is exercised by an autocrat who individually decides the laws and social direction of the country. Autocrats don’t tolerate opposition to their view points and have control over supposedly democratic and independent institutions.

Question 18

Constitutionalism

Answer 18

— believe that the powers of government should be limited and subject to the rule of law
— requires powers of parliament to be set out in a written or unwritten constitution

Question 19

Political Ideologies

Answer 19

Ideas and Beliefs on:
— relationship of government and economy in a capitalist system
— individual freedom vs. responsibility to/of society
— definition and importance of nation and the concept of citizenship
— relationship between men and women
— relationship between humans and nature

Question 20

Types of democracies

Answer 20

Plebiscitary
Radical
Totalitarian
Classical
Protective
Developmental
Parliamentary
Deliberative
Direct
Representative
Liberal

Question 21

Tensions in Liberal Democracies

Answer 21

Contrasting opinions on topics (liberal view vs. democratic government control view)

— security of the public vs civil liberties
— security of the community: pre-emptive strikes against terrorism through the checking and monitoring of members of the public e.g telephone and internet tapping
— civil liberties = right to privacy
— Hocking 2003, Williams 2004, Golden & Williams 2006

Question 22

What is the ASIO Act and when did it first exist?

Answer 22

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act — 2003 (Commonly known as the terrorism act)
Part two of the act was the Anti-Terrorism Bill — 2005

They allow for ASIO and federal police to arrest and detain someone under the precedent of them possibly posing a threat