Political system Glossary

Question 1

Bicameral

Answer 1

Parliament: with two houses, upper (senate) and lower (House of Representatives)

Question 2

Constitutional Monarchy

Answer 2

Type of Government: is based on a constitution- which sets out all the countries framework, but has a king or queen as the head of state.

Question 3

executive

Answer 3

another name for the government

Question 4

government

Answer 4

the group of people with the authority to govern a country or state; a particular ministry in office.

Question 5

Federation

Answer 5

process of separate states joining together under one central government:

-Australia- 1901: six self governing colonies (now states) joined together to create a new nation, Australia.

Question 6

Judiciary

Answer 6

name given to the courts and the judges

Question 7

minister

Answer 7

a member of parliament who is chosen by the Prime Minister to be responsible for a government department

Question 8

cabinet

Answer 8

group of select government ministers that meets regularly to decide major issues of government.

Question 9

Coalition

Answer 9

alliance between two political parties to improve their chances of winning the election

Question 10

Electoral roll

Answer 10

list of Australian citizens who are over 18 and eligible to vote

Question 11

Hansard

Answer 11

the official record of all of the debates in parliament

Question 12

Political party

Answer 12

Group of people who share the same political views and work together to have people elected to parliament.

Question 13

Whip

Answer 13

member of parliament who makes sure that other members are available for an important vote

Question 14

Australian Electoral Commission

Answer 14

independent body, set up to ensure the electoral roll is up to date, and organise and run elections and referendum

Question 15

eligible voters

Answer 15

Australian citizens who are over 18 years and are on the electoral roll (register of voters)

Question 16

independent

Answer 16

candidate or elected member of parliament who is not a member of a political party

Question 17

trade unions

Answer 17

organization of employees formed for mutual support and to bargain collectively with employers regarding pay and working condition

Question 18

ballot paper

Answer 18

a piece of paper on which a voter records, their vote in an election

Question 19

electorate

Answer 19

one of 150 areas within Australia, each having approximately the same population, that elects a person to represent its people in the house of reps.

Question 20

marginal electorate

Answer 20

an electorate where the member holds the seat by only a small umber of votes

Question 21

preferences

Answer 21

the order in which a voter lists other candidates in an election.

Question 22

absolute majority

Answer 22

half the number of votes received in an election plus one

Question 23

formal vote

Answer 23

a ballot paper which has been filled out correctly

Question 24

Act of Parliament

Answer 24

Statement of Australian Law
A bill, or proposed law, becomes an act of parliament after it has been debated and approved by both houses of parliament and given assent by the Governor General

Question 25

Bill

Answer 25

a proposed law put forward for debate in both houses of parliament. (if approved, a Bill becomes an Act of parliament)

Question 26

Royal assent

Answer 26

when the Governor General gives approval to a bill that has been passed by both house of parliament. (The Bill then becomes an Act and after it is proclaimed becomes law.)

Question 27

conscription

Answer 27

being called up for compulsory military service

Question 28

polygamy

Answer 28

the practise of having more than one spouse