Politics Flashcards
L1 - Democracy
Define Democracy:
Democracy refers to a system of government in which state power is vested (bestow) in the people or the general population of a state
power is excerted directly by people under a free electoral system (voting process)
(rule by the people)
L1 - Democracy
Where does the word Democracy come from?
Democracy originates from the greek words ‘Demos’ meaning people and ‘Kratos’ meaning power/rule.
So democracy literally means Power of the people
L1 - Democracy
Define Direct Democracy:
Direct Democracy refers to when everyone votes for themselves (referendum) and the decision is based on the majority vote.
L1 - Democracy
Define Representitive Democracy:
Representitive Democracy refers to when a general population votes for a politician to represent them in future votes.
L1 - Democracy
Why should everyone vote?
Everyone should vote for several reasons:
1. Participation - Compulsory voting allows citizens to directly shape their government
2. Representation - When everyone votes, the government reflects the diverse views of the population, leading to fair representation.
3. Accountability - Voting holds elected officials accountable, giving citizens the power to reward or replace them based on performance.
4. Majority Rules - Voting ensures that decisions reflect the will of the majority (maintaining fairness in process)
5. Minority Rights - Voting helps protect minority voices by allowing their representation in government, ensuring balance/fairness
(5 Democratic Principles)
L1 - Democracy
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of Direct Democracy
Strengths of Direct Democracy:
1. Increased Participation: Citizens have a direct say in decisions, encouraging greater political engagement.
2. Transparency: Decisions are made openly, fostering trust in the political process.
3. Representation of Will (majority): It directly reflects the majority’s preferences, ensuring policies align closely with public opinion.
Weaknesses of Direct Democracy:
1. Impractical for Large Populations: Difficult to implement for complex societies due to logistical challenges.
2. Risk of Misinformed Decisions: Citizens may not always have the expertise to make informed choices on complex issues.
3. Tyranny of the Majority: Can lead to the majority imposing their will at the expense of minority rights.
L1 - Democracy
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of Representitive Democracy
Strengths of Representative Democracy:
1. Efficient for Large Populations: Elected officials make decisions on behalf of the people, which is more practical in large societies.
2. Expertise: Representatives are often more knowledgeable about complex issues, allowing for more informed decision-making.
3. Accountability: Representatives are held accountable by elections, giving citizens the power to change their leadership.
Weaknesses of Representative Democracy:
1. Potential Disconnect: Elected officials may not always reflect the true will of the people.
2. Influence of Special Interests: Lobbying and money can impact decisions, reducing fairness.
3. Limited Participation: Citizens have less direct influence on specific policies, as they only vote for representatives.
L1 - Democracy
Compare Representitive and Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy:
1. Citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.
2. Practical for large populations and complex societies.
3. Elected officials may not always reflect public opinion.
4. Citizens participate mainly through voting in elections.
5. Allows for more informed decision-making by experienced representatives.
Direct Democracy:
1. Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.
2. Best suited for smaller populations or specific issues.
3. Ensures the will of the people is directly implemented.
4. Requires high levels of citizen participation and understanding
5. Can be time-consuming and inefficient for large-scale decisions.
L1 - Democracy
Identify the 5 Democratic Principles:
- Participation
- Represntation
- Accountability
- Majourity Rules
- Minority Rights
L1 - Democracy
Define Participation:
(5 Democratic Principles)
Participation refers to the key role of citizens in a democracy to vote and participate in elections.
L1 - Democracy
Define Representation:
(5 Democratic Principles)
Representation refers to how a democracy must represnt the will and diversity of the people.
L1 - Democracy
Define Accountability:
(5 Democratic Principles)
Accountability means that in a democracy, leaders and elected officials must answer to the people for their actions and decisions. This ensures they act in the public’s interest, as they can be criticized, questioned, or even voted out if they fail to meet expectations or break promises.
L1 - Democracy
Define Majority Rules:
(5 Democratic Principles)
Majority Rules refers to how the will of the majority shuld be followed.
L1 - Democracy
Define Minority Rights:
(5 Democratic Principles)
Minority Reights refer to the individual rights of the general population that should be protected.
L1 - Democracy
Identify an example of how ‘Participation’ is/not achieved
(5 Democratic Principles)
Achieved
* People can vote in elections, ensuring that citizens have a direct role in choosing their representatives and influencing government decisions.
Not Achieved
* Voter suppression, such as restrictive ID laws or disenfranchisement, prevents eligible citizens from participating in elections.
L1 - Democracy
Identify an example of how ‘Representation’ is/not achieved
(5 Democratic Principles)
Achieved
* Elected representatives in Parliament or Congress advocate for their constituents’ interests, providing a voice for different demographics in the legislative process.
Not Achieved
* Gerrymandering distorts electoral districts to favor one party, undermining fair representation and diluting the influence of some voters.
L1 - Democracy
Identify an example of how ‘Accountability’ is/not achieved
(5 Democratic Principles)
Achieved
* Officials must regularly report their actions and decisions to the public and are subject to election outcomes and oversight committees, ensuring they are answerable for their conduct.
Not Achieved
* Corruption or lack of transparency in government operations can prevent officials from being held accountable for their actions.
L1 - Democracy
Identify an example of how ‘Majority Rules’ is/not achieved
(5 Democratic Principles)
Achieved
* In a democratic vote, the outcome reflects the majority’s preference, ensuring that decisions align with the will of most voters.
Not Achieved
* Decisions made by a small, unrepresentative group without regard for the majority opinion can undermine the principle of majority rule.
L1 - Democracy
Identify an example of how ‘Minority Rights’ is/not achieved
(5 Democratic Principles)
Achieved
* Protections for minority groups, such as anti-discrimination laws and equal rights legislation, ensure that their rights are upheld even if they are not the majority.
Not Achieved
* Legislation or policies that marginalize minority groups or fail to protect their rights can result in their needs and voices being ignored.
L2 - Parliament
What did Australia need before the could send out colonies to Australia?
Before the colonies could join together as a nation they needed a constitution to set out the rules for how Australia would be run.
L2 - Parliment
How and When was the Constitution written?
The Australian Constitution was written at a series of conventions (meetings).
The Constitution had to be agreed to by the British Parliament before federation could proceed.
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act was passed by the British parliament in July 1900. And can into effect 01/01/1901.
L2 - Parliment
What is the Constitution?
The Constitution sets out guidelines and principles of government and lays out the structure, power and authority of the government and different parliaments.
L2 - Parliment
How is the Australian Parliment structured?
The Australian Parliament is structured by being split into 3 branches:
- The King’s Representative (the Governor-General)
Parliament is bicameral, meaning it is split into 2 houses: - The Upper House (the Senate)
- The Lower House (the House of Representatives)
L2 - Parliment
How are laws passed under Parliment?
Laws are passed under Parliament by first being introduced and debated in both the Upper House (Senate) and Lower House (House of Representatives).
To be approved, they must receive a majority of votes in both houses.
Once passed, the law is presented to the King’s Representative (the Governor-General) for royal assent.
L2 - Parliment
What are the main Roles of Parliment?
The main roles of the parliament at both state and federal levels is to:
- Pass laws. Bills are usually initiated in the lower house, but can be introduced into either house
- Decide and control finances – the collection of revenue through tax and the spending of public money
- Provide a place for discussion and debate of issues affecting the state/country
- Investigate areas of concern and report on various issues relating to government.
L2 - Parliment
How many Parliments are there in Australia established by the Constitution?
The Constitution established **9 Parliaments in Australia: **
1. 1 federal Parliament
2. 1 Parliament in each State and Territory. (8)
L2 - Parliment
For the following:
* Australians vote for federal representitive
* Federal Representitives
* Members in the House of Representitives
* Senators in the Senate
* Executive Government
* Min seats to form Government
Determine the representives for each:
(Federal Parliment)
- 14 Million+ Australians vote for federal representitive
- 227 Federal Representitives
- 151 Members in the House of Representitives
- 76 Senators in the Senate
- 42 Executive Government
- 76 Min seats to form Government
L2 - Parliment
For the following:
* Members in the House of Representitives
* Senators in the Senate
* Min seats to form Government
Determine the representives for each:
(Victorian Parliment)
- 88 Members in the House of Representitives
- 40 Senators in the Senate
- 45 Min seats to form Government
L3 - Parliment and Government
How is the Commonwealth Parliment structured vs the Victorian Parliment?
Commonwealth:
1. The Kings Representitive OR Governor-General
2. Senate (Upper Huse)
3. House of Represenitives (Lower House)
Victorian:
1. The kings representitive (represented bu the Governor of Victoria)
2. The Legistative Assembly (Lower House)
3. The Legislative Council (Upper House)
L3 - Parliment and Government
Who are our current Prime Ministers and Premiers in Australia?
Commonwealth - Australia
The Liberal Party/National Party coalition won the last election and is currently in government. The leader of the government is elected by the party and becomes the Prime Minister.
Currently this is Scott Morrison .
State - Victoria
The Labor party won the last election and is currently in government. The leader of the government is elected by the party and becomes the Premier.
Currently this is Daniel Andrews.
L3 - Parliment and Government
What is the difference between Parliment and Government?
The difference between Parliament and Government is that
Parliament is a law-making body.
Parliament consists of both the Upper House (Senate) and the Lower House (House of Representatives at the federal level or Legislative Assembly in Victoria), including all politicians who were elected at the last election.
Government is the party which won the majority of seats in the Lower House of Parliament.
Therefore the government usually controls which legislation (laws) is introduced to and made by Parliament
The Government is led by the Prime Minister (federally) or Premier (in Victoria).
The Government is also in charge of the administrative departments which run the country (eg Department of Education, Department of Defence)