Test Study Flashcards
0
Q
What does it mean the democracy’s have ‘Responsible Governments’
A
It means that the government is held responsible for its decisions
1
Q
What is a democracy?
A
A democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people
-It is 2 words Demos=People and Kratos=Power
2
Q
Define the term Politics
A
The knowledge and practice of government
3
Q
Define the term government
A
The governing body of persons in a state, country, community etc
4
Q
Define the term Ideology
A
Ideas at the basis of political thinking
5
Q
Define the term State
A
Political community under one government
6
Q
Define the term Dictator
A
Person in control of the government of a country who exercises power without a political mandate from the people
7
Q
Define the term by-law
A
Regulations made by a local council of shire
8
Q
What is a Goods and Service Tax?
A
A tax paid in most goods and services purchased, with some exceptions such as fresh fruit
9
Q
What does it mean that in a Democracy the sovereignty lies with the people?
A
The people decide who leads the country
10
Q
What are the 3 main functions of government in a democracy?
A
Judicial, Executive, Legislative
11
Q
What type of democracy is Australia?
A
A liberal democracy.
12
Q
What is special about the judicial system in an liberal democracy?
A
It is an independent judiciary.
13
Q
List some rights in a Democracy?
A
Freedom of speech, right to vote, assumed innocence, right to protest, right to not incriminate oneself (remain silent), rule of law (evidence must be provided before you can be charged with any crime.
14
Q
List the 7 basic functions of Government.
A
- Security-defence
- Order-protecting individuals from harmful actions
- Justice-Providing the means to resolve disputes
- Public Works and Essential services- establishing and maintaining services such as roads
- Social Welfare
- Economic Policies-Development and implementation of policies in relation to employment, inflation and eco growth
- Conservation and Development-planning for the use of natural resources.
15
Q
What do Anarchist Believe
A
- government in any form is unnecessary
- A stateless society
- people decide for themselves how to live in society
- no laws or rules
16
Q
What do communists believe?
A
- equality among all
- no private ownership off property or wealth
- all decisions about goods and services made by government
- wealth distributed by need rather then merit.
17
Q
What do Socialists Believe?
A
- all decisions made by 1 head of government
- Similar to communism.
18
Q
What do Liberalists Believe?
A
- individual liberty and freedom
- equal rights
- frequent free election
- freedom of thought
- free market economy
19
Q
What do capitalists Believe?
A
- private ownership/means of production
- all aspects of wealth decided by market forces
- role of government is minimal
- income distributed through profit, rent, wages
20
Q
What do conservatists Believe?
A
- society remain same as possible
- uphold traditions
- celebrate past
- new ideas must be connected to tradition
21
Q
What do monachists Believe?
A
- head of state has absolute power
- Head of state controls all aspects of state (unless constitutional monarchy)
- inherit office
22
Q
What do Fascists Believe?
A
- people come second to state
- authoritarian system (reject democracy)
- military values of national pride, power, strength
- loyalty to leader
23
Q
List the levels of government in Australia
A
Federal, State, local
24
List the 9 Responsibilities of Local Government.
- recreational facilities
- local roads
- libraries
- Garbage and recycling collection
- child care
- youth services
- zoning and building approval
- animal regulations
- enforcement of by-laws such as littering and illegal dumping
25
What is a local government know as?
A council
26
What do local councils represent?
People living directly in the local area
27
What are members of local governments called?
Councillors
28
What is the only part of Australia not to have councils
ACT
29
What is the elected leader of a council
Mayor
30
Where do councils reserve their funding from?
Receive funding from state government
| -also from council rates (local fines etc)
31
List the 9 responsibilities of the state Governments?
```
Health-hospitals, maternal health centres
Public housing
Railways and main roads
Conservation
Education kindergarten-12
Law and order (including police, courts and prisons)
Forestry and resource management
Public transport
Consumer affairs
```
32
What is the state government
A bi-cameral government
33
What are the names and colours of the upper and lower house?
Upper-Legislative Council-Red
| Lower-Legislative assembly-green
34
What territories are an exception to the bi-cameral system?
NT, ACT. Only have lower house, leader called chief minister
35
What is the leader of the state called
Premier
36
Where does the state government meet?
Capital of their state.
37
What do state governments make laws specific to?
Their state
38
Where do state governments receive funding from?
Federal government, taxes, fines, traffic offences
39
List the 12 responsibilities of Federal Parliment
- Payment of social security benefits (pensions)
- Economic management
- immigration
- Foreign affairs
- Taxation
- Industrial relations
- Customs and excise
- Defence
- quarantine
- communication
- trade
- University education and aid to non government schools
40
Name the upper and lower houses of federal government
Upper-Senate-red, senators
| Lower-house of representatives-green (PM)
41
Where does the federal government get money from?
- Taxes
- Income tax
- GST
- Import tax
- Company profit tax
- Government services charges
42
List the 4 main functions of the Australian Government
- Formation of Government
- Legislation
- Popular Representation
- Scrutiny
43
Explain Formation of Government
- The government is formed by the political party that wins an election
- that party has majority in house of reps
- The party and its leader select peel low parliamentarians to be ministers (foreign affairs, education)
44
Explain Legislation
- Most important function of government
- Makes new laws
- improves and changes other laws
- laws introduced to Parliament by ministers
- majority of laws are written by the government
45
Explain Popular Representation
- All MPs are elected
- In the H of Reps all members are voted in by people within their electorate (150 in h of R)
- electorates are usually 150,000 (94,000 vote)
- 12 senators per state, 2 per territory 76 all together
46
What does the term MPs stand for
Ministers of parliment, general term for people in federal parliment
47
What is the term for senators?
6 year term, rotated by two senate elections every years
48
What is the senate also known as?
The states house, house of review
49
What must the house of reps be in relation to the senate
Double the size
50
Scrutiny
- parliament able to check on acts of government
- Check spending of government money
- Accountable
- Oppersitions job to check in during question time
51
Explain the seating plan in the house of reps.
Government on right of speaker
Opposition on left of speaker
Independents sit near doorway.
52
Explain the process of passing a bill/making a law
- Someone is concerned about an aspect of society
- A bill(draft act of parliament) is drawn up and introduced to the house of reps
- Then comes a series of readings of the bill, first(discussion) second(more in depth, possible changes made) third(MPs vote) if successful passed to senate.
- Senate goes through same process, if passed bill goes back to the h of R with amendments
- H of R vote again if passed goes to governor General
- Governor general gives royal ascent
53
List Australia's 5 main political parties
- Australian Labour Party
- Liberal Party of Australia
- The Nationals
- Palmer United Party
- The Greens
54
What 5 things does the ALP believe in?
```
Workers rights
Links with trade unions
Equality/opportunity for disadvantaged members of society
Social security
Full employment
```
55
What 4 things does the LPA believe in?
Individual freedom
Maximising individual/private sector inititive
Encouraging citizens through incentive
Encouragement/facilitation if wealth to ensure all have highest standards of living, health, education, justice
56
What 3 things do the Nationals believe in?
- Strong representation of local communities
- Security for communities and families by preserving their health, safety, social and economic standards
- Importance of free choice
57
What 4 things does PUP believe in?
Abolish carbon tax
Revision of Australian government refugee policy
Create mineral wealth to contribute to welfare of Australia
Wealth created by a region largely stays in that region.
58
What 4 things do the Greens believe in?
Ecological sustainability
Grassroots participatory democracy
Social justice
Peace and non violence
59
Explain First Past the Post voting
It is a system where a person ticks 1 box of the person they wish to vote for and the candidate with the highest number of votes wins
60
Explain Preferential voting
A candidate must gain an absolute majority of the formal votes
Must place a number in order of preference in each candidates box
If no candidate gets more than half on first vote then candidate with least number of votes is excluded and the next preference is counted.
