Politics

Question 1

Identify 2 Law-making bodies in Australia

Answer 1

1. Statutory Authorities
2. The Federal Parliment

Question 2

What is an election?

Answer 2

Processes whereby the people choose their representatives and members of parliament.

Question 3

What are Candidates?

Answer 3

Members of political parties who are nominated to run for office in an election.

Question 4

Define parliment

Answer 4

An organisation that makes the laws in a country, often with a lower house to draft laws and the upper house to review laws; In Australia, The monarch’s representative ( the governor general) is also a part of parliament and officially creates the laws.

Question 5

What is a Liberal Democracy?

Answer 5

A form of government in which sovereignty is vested in the citizens.

Question 6

What is a representative democracy?

Answer 6

A political system based on citizens voting to elect representatives.

Question 7

What is a Constitutional monarchy?

Answer 7

A political system in which a monarch is the head of state and a parliament makes laws under the terms of a constitution.

Question 8

What are Bills?

Answer 8

Proposed laws that have not yet been passed by both houses of parliament

Question 9

Define what the Australian Constitution is

Answer 9

A document that describes the rules, or laws that govern Australia; the constitution defines the structure of government in Australia, and also the rights of citizens

Question 10

What year did the Australian Constitution come into operation?

Answer 10

1st January 1901.

Question 11

what is a royal assent? What does it do?

Answer 11

A royal assent is a formal signing and approval by the governor general (at the commonwealth level) or governor (at the state level) for a bill to become a law

Question 12

Define Federal Parliamentary system

Answer 12

A political system where the responsibility to make or change laws is shared by one national (or federal) parliament and six state parliament.

Question 13

In Australia, the federal parliament consists of…?

Answer 13

1. The Queen - Who is the head of parliament (or head of state) and is represented by the governor-general
2. Two Houses - A lower and an upper house; each consists of elected representatives called members of parliament or parliamentarians

Question 14

the lower house is called..?

Answer 14

The House of Representatives

Question 15

The upper house is called…?

Answer 15

The Senate

Question 16

Define members of parliament

Answer 16

Individuals who have been elected by the people to represent their views and values in parliament.

Question 17

what is a coalition

Answer 17

2 or more political parties that join together in an attempt to win an election and form government.

Question 18

what are electorial divisions?

Answer 18

geological areas containing specified number of people who can vote in an election

Question 19

Who are senators?

Answer 19

Individuals elected to the upper house of the parliament (the Senate)

Question 20

What is a political Party?

Answer 20

Political parties are made up of groups of people who share similar ideas about how their country or state should be governed.

Question 21

what are Independent candidates?

Answer 21

members of parliament who is not associated with a political party.

Question 22

What are the 3 main political parties?

Answer 22

-Labor
-Liberal
-The Nationals

Question 23

What are Labor’s key principles?

Answer 23

• Believes that the government should play a strong national role
• Strives for a fairer Australia for all workers
• Tries to close the gap between the rich and the poor so that wealth is more evenly distributed.

Question 24

What are Liberal’s key principles?

Answer 24

• Believes in the power of the individual and business to make their own choices and prosper.
• Strives for less government control
• The liberals and the Nationals join forces at the federal level so they have enough members to form government

Question 25

What are The Nationals key principles?

Answer 25

• Represents the interest of those Australians that live outside the cities in country Australia.
• believes in strong local communities, referring to themselves as the local champions.

Question 26

what is a policy?

Answer 26

A statement of principles to guide action for the future.

Question 27

List 3 factors that shape government policy

Answer 27

-Voter Opinion - governments want to be re-elected
-minor parties the government may have to negotiate with.
-Economic necessity- policy cost and affordability.

Question 28

What are some factors that influence voter behavior?

Answer 28

• The past record and competence of the government.
• The performance of the opposition
• Party loyalty
• Media exposure
• A good campaign strategy
• Important issues

Question 29

What are the 4 most common ways parties influence voters?

Answer 29

• Using traditional media (i.e Tv, Radio, evening news, newspapers)
• Using social media
• Face-to-face with voters
• Advertise (i.e Catchy slogans, jingles,close up messages from the leader)

Question 30

What age are you allowed to vote?

Answer 30

18 years of age

Question 31

What is a preferential system of voting?

Answer 31

A voting system that provides multiple counts of ballot paper to determine who has gained an absolute majority of total votes

Question 32

How do you vote for the House of representatives?

Answer 32

To cast a valid vote for the House of Representatives voters must indicate their preference for every candidate on the ballot paper. for example they must mark one next to the box to their most preferred candidate and then so on, until all candidates have been ranked from most preferred to least on the ballot paper.

Question 33

How do you vote for the Senate?

Answer 33

To cast a valid vote for the Senate voters must indicate their preference for a specified number of candidates on the ballot paper. This can be done in two ways, for example, voters can mark their preferences to at least 6 in the boxes above the line (although they can number all boxes above the line) or alternatively, they can number their preferences for candidates from one to at least 12 below the line ( but they can number the all boxes below the line if they wish)

Question 34

Use Question 3 of 21.5 to practise counting votes (pg 515)

Answer 34

have fun with that if u haven’t already done it