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sac 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Bi-Cameral

A

Two houses. All parliaments in Australia except QLD and territories have 2 houses.

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2
Q

Cabinet

A

Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and other senior government ministers. It is the policy making body, it elects what policies the government will introduce to parliament.

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3
Q

Crown

A

The authority of the Queen is represented in the Governor at state level and the Governor-general at federal level.

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4
Q

Federation

A

A union of sovereign states that relinquish some powers to a central authority to form one nation. Australia is a federation with 6 independent states, with the central authority being the Commonwealth Parliament.

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5
Q

Government

A

The members of the political party that hold the majority of seats in the lower house. At a state level the majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly & at a Federal in the house of Representatives.

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6
Q

Legislation

A

Laws made by parliament known as acts of parliaments or statutes.

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7
Q

Minister

A

A government minister is a member of the political party holding the majority in the lower house. They are given a particular responsibility to be in charge of a political department.

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8
Q

Parliament

A

The supreme law-making body. consisting of all the members of the parliaments, the Queen’s representative’s.

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9
Q

Prime Minister

A

The member of parliament who leads the political party that had formed government.

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10
Q

Royal Assent

A

The signing of a proposed law by the Queens Representative before it becomes a law.

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11
Q

Separation of Powers

A

There are three seperate types of powers in the parliamentary system: these are legislative, executive and judicial.

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12
Q

Statute

A

Also known as an act of parliament, this is another term for legislation.

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13
Q

Supremacy of powers

A

the final law making power rests with the parliament. Parliament can repeal its own previous legislation and can pass legislation to override common law.

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14
Q

Westminster principles

A

The principles which form Australia’s parliament, inherited from the U.K. These include: representative & responsible government, separation of powers, the structure of state and Commonwealth power and the roles of both the Crown Parliament.

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15
Q

Structure of Commonwealth Parliament

A

Governor General (Queen)
Upper house: Senate
Lower house: house of representative’s

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16
Q

The role of the House of Representative’s

A 
Initiating laws
determining the government
providing responsible government
representing the people
publicising and scrutinising government administration
controlling government expenditure
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17
Q

Importance of the House of Representative’s

A

Determine government
Initiate and amend money Bills
Represent the views of Majority of the people

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18
Q

The role of the Senate

A

Initiate bills; able to initiate bills (not money bills) or pass bills previously passed through the House of Reps.

Act as a a state’s; allows for equal representation from each state, regardless of population therefore protect interests of the state. Can work effectively, however generally vote on party lines.

Act as a house of review; majority of Bills are initiated in the lower house, the Senate can ensure Bills seen as too radical are not rushed through. Effective if it’s a hostile senate because allows for greater debate and scrutiny of bills however poor if merely obstructionist.

The senate fulfils its role of scrutinising legislation by checking all Bills and delegated legislation to ensure they are in the public interest.

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19
Q

Structure of the Victorian Parliament

A

Governor (Queens representative)
Upper house: Legislative Council 40 seats
Lower house: Legislative Assembly 88 seats

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20
Q

Role of the Legislative Assembly

A

Make & initiate laws including money bills
Members are elected to represent the interest of the electorate
Determine government
Most bills are initiated in the legislative assembly

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21
Q

Role of the Legislative Council

A

To scrutinise & review bills passed from the Assembly
Initiate and make laws, other than money bills
Protect and represent the interests of regions

22
Q

Role of the Victorian Government

A

Initiate bills
Act as Regions
Act as a house of review

23
Q

Role of the Crown

A

The Crown is represented in Australia by the Queens Representatives
Governor-general at federal level and the governors at state level
Royal assent, Reserve powers, executive council

24
Q

Executive Council

A

The council is the formal body holding executive power
The responsibilities in theory belong to the Governor-General however they are exercised by the PM & other Senior Ministers at federal level. The council is responsible for delegated legislation; this is the rules and regulations made by government bodies.

25
Q

Royal Assent

A

Royal assent is the signing of a proposed law to become a law. The Governor-General has the power to withhold royal assent but the governor does not have the same authority. Indicates approval from the Queen.

26
Q

Functions of Parliament

A

The main functions of parliament include:

Making laws of behalf of the people reflecting society views and values

Provide for the formation of government

Balance the books

27
Q

Seats in the Upper house of Commonwealth parliament and how they are determined

A

12 from each state and 2 from each territory. 76

28
Q

Does current Federal Government “control” the upper house? explain

A

No, theres a Hostile Senate therefore allows for greater debate and scrutiny of bills however poor if merely obstructionist.

29
Q

Difference between the lower and upper house (fed parliament)

A

Lower: initiate money bills
Upper: cannot

30
Q

2 roles of the upper house of state parliament, do they achieve these goals?

A

Act as a regions
Initiate bills
Protecting regions regardless of they population

31
Q

How is government determined?

A

When the majority of seats are in the lower house

32
Q

How many seats in the lower house of Federal Parliament and how is it determined

A

Determined at election

One from each electorate

33
Q

Two ways in which representative government is achieved?

A

Regular & Fair election

Bi-cameral system

34
Q

How is responsible government achieved?

A

Ministerial Responsibilities

Held answerable & accountable for actions

35
Q

The principles of the Australian Parliamentary System

A

Representative government
Responsible government
Separation of powers

36
Q

Executive power:

A

the authority to administer the laws and manage the business of government. This power lies with the governor-general, exercised by Cabinet

37
Q

Legislative power:

A

the authority to make laws; vested in the parliament.

38
Q

Judicial power:

A

the power to enforce law and settle disputes.

The Judicial power must be kept seperate to ensure all citizens are protected of political power and corruption.

39
Q

Senate effectiveness House of Review (Main Role)

A

The senate reviews legislation passed by the house of representatives. It can amend or reject any proposed law. This ensures that bills are scrutinised further, are not rushed through parliament and are not too radical.

40
Q

Role of the Queen’s representative in law making

A

To grant royal assent signing - a bill to show crown approval Bill is now an act
Member of the executive council - approving delegated legislation

41
Q

Australia is a…..

A

Constitutional Monarchy. Monarch is the Queen of the UK and Australia and a constitution that establishes the parliamentary system and provides legal framework for making laws.

42
Q

The House of Representative’s is sometimes referred to as… and determines…

A

The people’s house. Determines which party or coalition should form government therefore known as the house of government

43
Q

publicising and scrutinising government administration

control government expenditure

A

it’s a role to publicise the policies of government, to make sure legislation is debated, matters of public important discussed

bills must be passed through both houses before a government is able to collect taxes or spend money

44
Q

Effectiveness of House of Representatives

A

house of government which holds the majority of seats, as it did after the 2013 election. however just because it has the majority of seats in the lower house does not mean is wins the election as seen in 2013, the 4 independents got behind Julia Gillard therefore wins.

45
Q

Effectiveness of the Senate

A

In practise the senators tend to vote according to the dictates of their party. Upper house largely does not fulfil its role as state’s house or house of review,
if upper house has majority it tends to be a rubber stamp: comfirming decisions in the lower house.
if theres a hostile senate (controlled by opposition) the upper house is likely to review the Bills passed through the lower house more carefully.

46
Q

Reserve Powers

A

reserve powers can be exercised without ministers.
not set in the constitution
governor-general must ensure the country continues to be governed.
eg if government was voted out & refused to step down or if the government could mot get legislation through the senate, the governor-general would be expected to step in.

47
Q

Government

A

The government consists of all members of parliament who are members of the political party that holds the majority of seats in the lower house, whether they are members of the upper or lower house

48
Q

Opposition

A

The opposition is the political party holding the second largest number of seats in the lower house. It is an alternative government and if the party wins the next election it will forma new government

49
Q

Reasons for separation powers

A

protects stability of government and the freedom of people
provides independence between the bodies that make the law
provides a check on the power of parliament to ensure that it does not go outside its area of power

50
Q

Effectiveness of the parliamentary system

A

time for public debate: passing of a bill delayed to allow time for debate in the community

Laws should reflect values: for laws to be effective they must reflect the values of the community, for changes in the law they must establish which changes would be most generally acceptable

Participation by the individual: democratic principles which allow the people to participate in the law-making process, by being able to vote.

Legal (6 decks)

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