The Australian Democracy Notes Flashcards
Define democracy
A system of government where
the people
either directly vote on laws
or elect representatives on their behalf
Define elections
A formal and organised coin to vote of a person for a political office or other position
Define Governor General
The King’s representative in Australia
Define Federal Government
Is Australia’s government in which the constitution gives certain powers to federal government where some are shared among the state and local levels
Define State Government
Is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in the federal form of government
Define Local Government
The government of a town or city. The lowest level of Government
Define Citizens
A legally recognised subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalised
Define Rights
A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something
Define Constitutional Monarchy
A system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organised government
Define Representative Democracy
A political system in which citizens of a country or other political entity vote for representatives to handle legislation and otherwise rule that entity on their behalf
Define the Three Levels of Government
Federal, State and Local
Responsibilities of the Federal Government
- Medicare
- Defence
- Immigration
- Foreign Policy
Responsibilities of the State Government
- Public Transport
- Roads
- Housing
- Prisons
- Police and Ambulance Services
Responsibilities of the Local Government
- Pet Control
- Libraries
- Town Planning
- Sewerage
- Local Roads
- Rubbish Collection
Describe how democracy operates in Australia
Australia is a representative democracy where people elect representatives to speak and make decisions on their behalf. In 1901 the six colonies (now states) federated to form the new nation of Australia to be governed by a federal parliament.
Describe how the three levels of government share responsibilities
The federal and state levels have shared responsibilities – concurrent powers. These areas include education, health and water management. Section 109 says that if a state parliament and federal Parliament pass conflicting laws on the same subject, then the federal law overrides the state law.
Each level has its own set of responsibilities to manage. The federal government collects taxes by taxing citizens on their incomes, spending and businesses. The state government receives more than half their funding from the federal government and they also collect taxes. Local councils collect taxes (rates) from all local property owners and receives funding from both the other governments.
Explain where the origins of democracy originated and why people began this form of government
Democracy originated in Ancient Athens in Greece. They began this form of government to allow every citizen (man) to be given the choice whether they would go to war against the Persians or be ruled by them. They voted with stones.
What is a direct democracy?
A direct democracy is where the people directly vote on the laws passed without representatives.
What is a representative democracy?
A representative democracy is where the people elect representatives to represent their views in parliament.
What is the difference between a direct democracy and a representative democracy?
The difference is that in a direct democracy, the people directly vote on laws and in a representative democracy, representatives chosen by th people vote on laws
What are the names of the two houses of parliament at Commonwealth level?
The two houses are the Senate and the House of Representatives
What is meant by a constitutional monarchy?
A constitutional monarchy is when the country is not ruled by the Monarch but rather the constitution however they hold a ceremonial role. It helps to protect from a corrupt government
Who represents the King in Australia?
The Governor General, Sam Mostyn
What is the name of the Prime Minister?
Anthony Albanese of the Labour Party
What is the name of the Premier of Victoria?
Jacinta Allan of the Labour Party
How do Parliament make laws?
- For a law to be passed it need to go through each the levels (lower house, upper house, Governor General)
- Governor General needs to give Royal Assent
- Laws typically begin in HOR as there is more people to vote to pass it as government has majority
- Laws are heavily scrutinised and debated by houses
- Executive Government (Cabinet) decides policy then drafts and introduces bills to Parliament
- Bills are considered by Parliament
- If passed through Parliament, then bills are approved by the Governor General
- Bills become Acts of Parliament and therefore laws which are administered by Government Departments
Bills get read, debated, considered in detail and read again
In which house is government formed?
House of Representatives
Why do you think that a bill must be passed in both houses? Give one advantage and one disadvantage of this process.
Bill must be passed in both houses to ensure that the bills are heavily scrutinised by a wide range of people to ensure that the bill is representative of what larger Australia wants and to ensure that there is not an abuse of power.
An advantage is that the bills are scrutinised by a range of people from different backgrounds who are representative of the diverse citizen body of Australia. This helps to assist in making sure that the wants and needs of Australian citizens are met.
A disadvantage is that because of how heavily scrutinised and contested these bills are, it is difficult for many of them to pass through each of the levels
How many members are in the House of Representatives and the Senate?
151 in House of Reps and 76 in Senate
What colour is each house?
Green for House of Reps and Red for Senate
Features of a democracy (see below)
Constitutional Monarchy
Fair, Frequent, Free Elections
Active and Engaged Citizens
Representative and Responsible Democracy
Fair, Frequent and Free Elections
- Victorian Elections- every four years
Commonwealth Elections- every three years (frequent)
- Too frequent = instability
- Secret ballot and equal votes (fair)
- Compulsory elections (fair)
- Protects from corruption in government and needs being misrepresented
Active and Engaged Citizens
- People are encouraged to be educated, interested and have an understanding of political candidates
- People have the ability to dissent
- People have the ability to watch Parliament
Representative and Responsible Democracy
- We choose representatives for our electorate in Parliament
- They are encouraged to act with integrity and have accountability
- We ask them to not lie or abuse their powers
Constitutional Monarchy
- Not run by the King
- The Monarch holds a ceremonial role
- The Australian representative of the monarchy is known as the Governor General and makes decisions on behalf of the Monarch
- Protects from a corrupt government
Why is the voice of the people important in a democracy?
- The voice of the people is central to the functioning of a democracy because it ensures that the government remains representative, accountable, and responsive to the needs and aspirations of its citizens.
Why was the battle between the Athenians and Persians significant? Who had decided to send the Persians to invade? Who had to decide that the Athenians would defend Athens?
- Significant because it marked the beginning of democracy
- King Darius sent the Persians to invade whereas male, landholding citizens of Athens chose that they would defend Athens by voting
Who can vote in Australia?
- Any Australian citizen over the age of 18 without an exemption
- Exemptions include if you are mentally incapacitated, have a criminal conviction or are physically incapable
Explain why politicians need to act in the interests of the people they represent, rather than their own personal interests? What could happen if a politician acts in self-interest?
- Need to act in the interests of others to ensure that all citizens’ voices are heard and understood and that fulfill their duty of listening and acting upon these views
- Act in self interest → lose support and trust of public, harm society and create a corrupt and dysfunctional democracy
What are the features of each House of Parliament (at Federal/Commonwealth level)?
- The House of Representatives is where the government is formed, - Plays a central role in passing laws and controlling government expenditure.
- More directly connected to the will of the people, as its members represent electorates across Australia
- The Senate serves as the ‘house of review’
- Designed to represent the views of the states and territories
- Provides checks and balances, ensuring that legislation is thoroughly debated and scrutinised before it becomes law
How does a political party form government?
- The formation of government in Australia is determined by the results of federal elections, where the party or coalition with a majority of seats in the House of Representatives is invited by the Governor-General to form the government, with the leader of that party becoming the Prime Minister
Why do we need laws in Australia?
- Laws are essential for maintaining social order, protecting the rights of individuals, ensuring justice and fairness, regulating economic activity, and promoting the common good.
- They provide the framework for how individuals, businesses, and government institutions interact, resolving conflicts and ensuring that society functions smoothly and fairly.
- In Australia, laws are integral to the political, economic, and social system, and they are necessary to uphold the principles of democracy, human rights, and social justice.
Why are parliamentary debates public and broadcast on television, radio, the internet and recorded in Hansard and reported by the media?
- In Australia, making parliamentary debates publicly available—whether through live broadcasts, online platforms, or the official Hansard records—serves a range of crucial democratic functions.
- These include ensuring transparency, enabling accountability of elected officials, promoting public engagement, and allowing for a free flow of information about the actions of government.
- Allows citizens to actively participate in democratic process
Aside from voting out a politician, what else can a person do to influence decisions in Australia?
- Engaging directly with politicians, participating in public consultations, lobbying, protesting, signing petitions and joining advocacy groups are all effective ways to influence decisions
- By using these avenues, Australians can actively shape the decisions that impact their lives and help ensure that their democracy remains vibrant, responsive, and accountable to the people
As a person who is not currently able to vote, what is one way in which you can participate in democracy? How could this be used to influence change?
- One powerful method is engaging in advocacy and activism—whether that’s through raising awareness, organizing campaigns, or directly engaging with those in power.
- A key example of this is petitioning, which is a way for individuals to mobilize support for a cause or policy change, even if they cannot vote themselves.
- If you present this to politicians, change can be influenced for they can see the views of citizens represented authentically and act upon this
What are some examples of active and engaged citizens in Australia? How may they be influential?
- Some examples are journalists, volunteers at polling booths and activists
- These individuals and groups are influential in driving change by raising awareness, organizing campaigns, lobbying policymakers, and informing public opinion.
- Through their dedication, they help ensure that Australia’s democracy remains vibrant and responsive to the needs and concerns of its citizens.
How does Australia provide fair elections?
- Australia’s approach to providing fair elections is built on a combination of compulsory voting, independent electoral oversight, transparent processes, and legal protections that ensure all eligible citizens can participate in the democratic process.
What are some examples of types of careers/jobs people work at for each level of government?
- Careers across the different levels of government in Australia are diverse, ranging from policy development and public service to law enforcement, health services, and infrastructure management.
- Each level of government, federal, state/territory, and local has a distinct set of responsibilities, and individuals working in these roles contribute to the effective functioning of the government and the well-being of citizens.
