Terminology: Semester 1 Flashcards
Constitutionalism
The belief is that government power should be limited, as opposed to absolutism.
Supermajority
A two thirds majority
Cloture
The cession of debate on a bill
Subpoena
A writ ordering a person to attend a court
Audit
An official inspection of an organisation’s accounts
Standing orders
The rules by which each House of Parliament operates
Decline of parliament thesis
The principle that the parliament is unable to effectively fulfil its roles as a representative and law making body, and that it’s unable to legislate and hold the government accountable like it should.
Standing orders
The rules by which each House of Parliament operates
Federation Chamber
A special power house committee comprised of all MHRs. It’s purpose is to pass non-contentious bills that both major parties already broadly agree on with minimal debate/scrutiny. This speeds the passage of bills and gives the house more time for more contested legislation.
Joint committee
A committee with members from both houses eg the parliamentary joint committee on human rights
Standing committee
A committee which endures for the duration of a parliament
Privileges Committee
Committee which holds members of each house accountable for their use of parliamentary privilege.
Select committee
Committee formed for a specific purpose and disbanded after reporting to parliament
Revival of parliament thesis
Idea that the parliament is reviving in its accountability role due to the roles of the senate, independents and minor parties and committees.
Responsible government
The convention that the government is drawn from and accountable to the parliament
Representative government
A form for of government whereby the people delegate their sovereignty to a governing body for a specific period
Separation of powers
The principle that the three arms of government should have separate roles, with no one person or group controlling multiple arms. Mechanisms should exist for the three arms to hold each other accountable.
Express powers
Powers of the Governor General that are exercised on the pms advice, codified in the constitution eg appointing ministers
Reserve powers
Constitutional powers of the gg that can be exercised outside of the pms advice in emergencies, eg s28 and 64
Junior Minister
Members of the outer ministry who hold portfolios in areas of less important government activity.
Assistant ministers
MPs appointed to assist a minister, who may even administer their own small departments.
Popular sovereignty
The idea Democracy is based on, that the right to govern rests with the people.
General mandate
A claim by a governing party to have authority to implement policies that reflect its authority. They are a much less successful form of mandate.
Specific mandate
A claim by a governing party to have authority to implement policies and promises that were specifically part of an election campaign, e.g. Rudd had a mandate to get rid of WorkChoices. They are the most successful claim to a mandate.
