Unit 1 AOS 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is popular sovereignty?

A

the principle that the leaders of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political legitimacy.
Benjamin Franklin expressed the concept when he wrote that “In free governments, the rulers are the servants and the people their superiors and sovereigns“.

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2
Q

What is Parliamentary Sovereignty?

A

a concept that the legislative body has absolute sovereignty and is supreme over all other government institutions, including executive or judicial bodies. It also holds that the legislative body may change or repeal any previous legislation and so it is not bound by written law (in some cases, not even a constitution) or by precedent.

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3
Q

What is Responsible Government?

A

a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive branch) in Westminster democracies are responsible to parliament rather than to the monarch, or, in a colonial context, to the imperial government, and in a republican context, to the president, either in full or in part. If the parliament is bicameral, then the government is responsible first to the parliament’s lower house, which is more representative than the upper house, as it usually has more members and they are always directly elected.

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4
Q

What is legitimacy?

A

‘the belief that an actor has the right to exercise power’

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5
Q

What is power?

A

the ability to influence the actions of other actors to achieve objectives

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6
Q

What is federalism?

A

A system of government in which law making powers and responsibilities are constitutionally divided between a central, national government and a series of state or regional governments. Both Australia and the USA operate a federal system of government.

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7
Q

What is separation of powers?

A

The principle that the three branches of government, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, should be kept independent and act without interference from each other as means of decentralising and preventing abuse of power. In Australia, the separation of powers is blurred as the executive and legislative branches are combined; in the USA, the separation of powers is very clear.

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8
Q

What is sovereignty?

A

The legitimate or widely accepted ability to exercise power within defined borders.

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9
Q

What is popular sovereignty?

A

the principle that the leaders of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political legitimacy.

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10
Q

What is parliamentary sovereignty?

A

a concept that the legislative body has absolute sovereignty and is supreme over all other government institutions, including executive or judicial bodies. It also holds that the legislative body may change or repeal any previous legislation and so it is not bound by written law (in some cases, not even a constitution) or by precedent.

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11
Q

What does the term ‘responsible government’ mean?

A

a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive branch) in Westminster democracies are responsible to parliament rather than to the monarch, or, in a colonial context, to the imperial government, and in a republican context, to the president, either in full or in part. If the parliament is bicameral, then the government is responsible first to the parliament’s lower house, which is more representative than the upper house, as it usually has more members and they are always directly elected.

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12
Q

What are the 5 criteria that democracies are assessed on?

A

Electoral process and pluralism
The functioning of government
Political participation
Democratic political culture
Civil liberties

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13
Q

What does the term ‘pluralism’ mean?

A

a situation in which people of different social classes, religions, races, etc., are together in a society but continue to have their different traditions and interests

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14
Q

What there the key components of Australia’s democracy?

A

Representative democracy—Australians vote for members of parliament to make laws on their behalf – Federal elections = every 3 years
Constitutional monarchy—The King is Australia’s head of state but does not have absolute power and is required to follow the Australian Constitution. The King gives his powers to the Governor-General.
Federation of states—A Federation is a group of states who have given some of their law-making powers to a national government and kept some law-making powers for local matters.
Separation of powers – how power to make and manage laws is shared between the parliament makes the law, the executive (government) puts law into action and the judiciary (courts) settles disputes about the law

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15
Q

What would the benefit of increasing Australia’s electoral terms be?

A
  • cheaper
  • less election fatigue
  • politicians could focus more on governing than campaigning
  • increased certainty for business = increase investment
  • increased certainty for consumers = increase spending
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16
Q

What would the negatives be for increasing Australia’s electoral terms?

A
  • decrease in accountability for politicians
  • unpopular governments would be in power for longer
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17
Q

What are the drawbacks of flexible terms for elections

A
  • can be manipulated by the govt. as they can call elections when circumstances (e.g. economy) make them more popular
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18
Q

How does the First-Past-the-Post electoral system work?

A

Country divided into constituencies
Each constituency has one seat
Voters select first preference only
Candidate with most votes (even if not majority wins)

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19
Q

What are the advantages of first-past-the-post system?

A

Creates single party governments = more stable
Creates a single large opposition
Tends to lead to 2 ‘broad church’ parties = less divided, encompass lots of different views
Tends to exclude extremist parties
Creates link b/w MP and their constituency
Simplest for people to understand = legitimacy

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20
Q

What are the disadvantages of first past the post

A

Governments elected w/o support of 50% population t/f do not have popular sovereignty
Excludes minority parties
Can exclude minority groups
Open to manipulation of electoral boundaries (gerrymandering)

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21
Q

How does preferential voting work?

A

Country divided into constituencies
Each constituency has one seat
Voters rank candidates in order of preference
Votes counted, if no candidate has 50% +, least popular candidate is eliminated and their preferences are redistributed - keeps happening until one candidate reaches 50%+1

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22
Q

What are the advantages of preferential voting?

A
  • more representative of will of people than First-Past-the-Post = greater popular sovereignty
    Creates link b/w MP and their constituency
    Big political parties have to be more responsive to smaller groups in order to attract preferences - makes partied ‘broader churches’
    Allows minor parties to influence political agenda
    No wasted votes
    Still leads to one party gaining majority of seats which can make government more stable
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23
Q

What are the disadvantages of preferential voting?

A

It requires a reasonable degree of literacy and numeracy to be used effectively
It is not as proportional as proportional representation - major parties get more seats than they get votes
Leads to a single party government which is not an accurate representation of the will of the people

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24
Q

How does proportional representation electoral systems work?

A
  • state divided into constituencies
  • each constituency has multiple seats (more than one person elected)
  • more than one candidate from each party can run in each seat
  • voters indicate preferences
  • quota is set (#votes/#seats+1) - that is what is needed to ‘win’ a seat
  • counting occurs, if a candidate reaches their quota then any surplus votes are reallocated to second preference
  • if nobody reaches quota then lowest ranked candidate is eliminated and their preferences are redistributed
  • continues until all seats are allocated
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25
Advantages of proportional representation
- tends not to lead to any party gaining a majority, so leads to coalition governments which better represent popular sovereignty - most representative of will of the people in terms of who is elected - allows voters to pick between candidates from the same party - rather than that being dictated by the party
26
Disadvantages of proportional representation
Most complex for people to understand Leads to coalition governments (more than one party share power) - therefore, only works where parties can work together and compromise - otherwise unstable Can lead to fractures within a party
27
What is compulsory voting and how many states have compulsory voting
Where there is a penalty for not voting. 21 states have it
28
What are the arguments for compulsory voting?
leads to higher turnout = higher level of engagement t/f increased popular sovereignty Increases stability b/c people were involved Prevents disengagement
29
What are the arguments against compulsory voting?
Infringement of rights to be forced Can lead to people voting without being informed
30
How can campaign financing be regulated?
1. Allocation of public money – political parties are allocated money and/or resources by the state to fund part/all of its campaign 2. Campaign contribution limits - $ set for how much any individual/business can give 3. Campaign contribution bans – certain groups not allowed to donate 4. Campaign spending limits - $ set for how much the political party can spend 5. Reporting requirements – rules on what needs to be reported publicly 6. Disclosure requirements – if donation is + set $ it has to be publicly disclosed 7. Monitoring mechanisms – empowers agency (e.g. AEC) to audit party
31
What are the aims of a state
1) Maintain sovereignty 2) Ensure National security 3) Other national interest a) economic prosperity b) regional Relationships c) International standing
32
What are the roles of states
1) Maintain an army 2) Maintain diplomatic relations 3) Represent the state in IGOs
33
What is military power
military capacity and ability to use it to achieve national interest
34
What is military power comprised of
1) size of army 2) Type and calibre of equipment
35
What is economic power
A state's ability to influence the actions of another sates through finance and trade
36
What is diplomatic power
power accreted to sates through their relationship with others in the from of alliances
37
What its. cultural power
a desirable and transportable culture... may influence regional relationships and international standing
38
What is political power
the use of a state's internal political machinery to exert influence over the actions of others
39
What is technological power
Technological power, current tech strength, create and advance innovations
40
Global Actor
is a state, intergovernmental organisation, and non-state actor. or transnational corporation that is involved in global politics
41
Instability
refers to lack of order regarding a global issue or region
42
National interest
Pursued to ensure the survival and potential growth of that state
43
Power
refers to the ability of global actor to influence the action of another global actor
44
State
possess a permanent population, defined territory and recognised sovereignty
45
Unilateralism
policy of a state acting alone, with little regard for the views or interests of other global actors
46
Sovereignty
Legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control of a territory within recognised borders
47
Contested borders
States's territory is claimed by another state or group of people- not widely recognised borders that the state has effective control over
48
Multilateral
refers to a system of coordinating relations between 3 or more global actors, usually in pursuit of specific objectives
49
popular sovereignty
the principle that the leaders of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political legitimacy.
50
Parliamentary Sovereignty
a concept that the legislative body has absolute sovereignty and is supreme over all other government institutions, including executive or judicial bodies. It also holds that the legislative body may change or repeal any previous legislation and so it is not bound by written law (in some cases, not even a constitution) or by precedent.
51
Responsible Government
a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.
52
what is legitimacy
the belief that an actor has the right to exercise power’
53
what is federalism
A system of government in which law making powers and responsibilities are constitutionally divided between a central, national government and a series of state or regional governments. Both Australia and the USA operate a federal system of government.
54
what is separation of powers
The principle that the three branches of government, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, should be kept independent and act without interference from each other as means of decentralising and preventing abuse of power.
55
what is sovereignty
The legitimate or widely accepted ability to exercise power within defined borders.
56
what is parliamentary sovereignty
a concept that the legislative body has absolute sovereignty and is supreme over all other government institutions, including executive or judicial bodies. It also holds that the legislative body may change or repeal any previous legislation and so it is not bound by written law (in some cases, not even a constitution) or by precedent.
57
what is responsible government
a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive branch) in Westminster democracies are responsible to parliament rather than to the monarch, or, in a colonial context, to the imperial government, and in a republican context, to the president, either in full or in part. If the parliament is bicameral, then the government is responsible first to the parliament’s lower house, which is more representative than the upper house, as it usually has more members and they are always directly elected.
58
what is pluralism
a situation in which people of different social classes, religions, races, etc., are together in a society but continue to have their different traditions and interests
59
Why are they Senkaku Islands important?
Close to key shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds and maybe an oil reserves
60
What 3 countries are in fight for the rights to the Senkaku islands
Japan, China and Taiwan
61
What is the ADIZ and what year was in made and who by
The Air Defence Identification Zone in 2013 by China
62
Who is challenging China's sovereignty of the ADIZ
America
63
What is the ADIZ
that aircraft entering the Senkaku Islands MUST identity and report planes and obey instructions to Chinese Ministry of defence
64
What is the 4 claims that Japan has on their sovereignty
1. Islands- X trace of control of China before 1895 2. Islands- X part of Taiwan or decades Islands thus X later re-found by Japan under Article II of the San Fran Peace Treaty 3. Islands= controlled by the US in 1945-1972, Japan has since 1972 exercised administration over the islands 4. Japan alleged Taiwan and china- only started claiming ownership in 1971, after the UN reported large oil and. gas reserves may exist under the seabed near the islands
65
What is the 5 claims that China and Taiwan has on their sovereignty
1. Discovery and early recording I. the maps and travel logs 2. Islands= China's Frontier. offshore defence- islands= part of China 3. Japan took over control of islands (1894-1895) warning against annexing the islands due to anxiety about China's response, showing that Japan knew islands= X terra nullius 4. The Potsdam Declaration- Japan accepted the terms of Declaration when it surrendered 5. China formally protested the 1971 US transfer of control to Japan
66
What Is article 50
sets out the process by which member states may withdraw from the EU
67
What are some of the economic costs of Brexit
- Cost of referendum= 269 million Euro - Unemployment fall= to 43-year low -decrease in trade- impact on workers as a decrease in UK exports by 15.8% -Lost manpower- cost 30 billion euro in lost tax revenue -Est to cost 4% reduction in GDP in 2021 -lost of 2.5 billon euro of GDP`
68
What are the pos impacts of the EU on sovereignty
- Average EU citizen is 840 euros richer per year- b/c os the single market -The Eu provides 65 billon euros in agriculture subsides - Increases influence on global stage for smaller countries due to representation in G7, G20 etc.
69
What are the 5 criteria that democracies are assessed on?
Electoral process and pluralism The functioning of government Political participation Democratic political culture Civil liberties
70
What there the key components of Australia’s democracy?
Representative democracy—Australians vote for members of parliament to make laws on their behalf – Federal elections = every 3 years Constitutional monarchy—The King is Australia’s head of state but does not have absolute power and is required to follow the Australian Constitution. The King gives his powers to the Governor-General. Federation of states—A Federation is a group of states who have given some of their law-making powers to a national government and kept some law-making powers for local matters. Separation of powers – how power to make and manage laws is shared between the parliament makes the law, the executive (government) puts law into action and the judiciary (courts) settles disputes about the law
71
What would the benefit of increasing Australia’s election terms be?
cheaper less election fatigue politicians could focus more on governing than campaigning increased certainty for business = increase investment increased certainty for consumers = increase spending
72
What would the negatives be for increasing Australia’s election terms?
decrease in accountability for politicians unpopular governments would be in power for longer
73
What are the drawbacks of flexible terms for elections
can be manipulated by the govt. as they can call elections when circumstances (e.g. economy) make them more popular
74
How does the First-Past-the-Post electoral system work?
Country divided into constituencies Each constituency has one seat Voters select first preference only Candidate with most votes (even if not majority wins)
75
What are the advantages of first-past-the-post system?
Creates single party governments = more stable Creates a single large opposition Tends to lead to 2 ‘broad church’ parties = less divided, encompass lots of different views Tends to exclude extremist parties Creates link b/w MP and their constituency Simplest for people to understand = legitimacy
76
What are the disadvantages of first past the post
Governments elected w/o support of 50% population t/f do not have popular sovereignty Excludes minority parties Can exclude minority groups Open to manipulation of electoral boundaries (gerrymandering)
77
How does preferential voting work?
Country divided into constituencies Each constituency has one seat Voters rank candidates in order of preference Votes counted, if no candidate has 50% +, least popular candidate is eliminated and their preferences are redistributed - keeps happening until one candidate reaches 50%+1
78
What are the advantages of preferential voting?
more representative of will of people than First-Past-the-Post = greater popular sovereignty Creates link b/w MP and their constituency Big political parties have to be more responsive to smaller groups in order to attract preferences - makes partied ‘broader churches’ Allows minor parties to influence political agenda No wasted votes Still leads to one party gaining majority of seats which can make government more stable
79
What are the disadvantages of preferential voting?
It requires a reasonable degree of literacy and numeracy to be used effectively It is not as proportional as proportional representation - major parties get more seats than they get votes Leads to a single party government which is not an accurate representation of the will of the people
80
How does proportional representation electoral systems work?
state divided into constituencies each constituency has multiple seats (more than one person elected) more than one candidate from each party can run in each seat voters indicate preferences quota is set (#votes/#seats+1) - that is what is needed to ‘win’ a seat counting occurs, if a candidate reaches their quota then any surplus votes are reallocated to second preference if nobody reaches quota then lowest ranked candidate is eliminated and their preferences are redistributed continues until all seats are allocated
81
Advantages of proportional representation
tends not to lead to any party gaining a majority, so leads to coalition governments which better represent popular sovereignty most representative of will of the people in terms of who is elected allows voters to pick between candidates from the same party - rather than that being dictated by the party
82
Disadvantages of proportional representation
Most complex for people to understand Leads to coalition governments (more than one party share power) - therefore, only works where parties can work together and compromise - otherwise unstable Can lead to fractures within a party
83
What is compulsory voting and why use?
leads to higher turnout = higher level of engagement t/f increased popular sovereignty Increases stability b/c people were involved Prevents disengagement
84
What are the arguments against compulsory voting?
Infringement of rights to be forced Can lead to people voting without being informed
85
How can campaign financing be regulated?
1. Allocation of public money – political parties are allocated money and/or resources by the state to fund part/all of its campaign 2.Campaign contribution limits - $ set for how much any individual/business can give 3.Campaign contribution bans – certain groups not allowed to donate 4.Campaign spending limits - $ set for how much the political party can spend 5.Reporting requirements – rules on what needs to be reported publicly 6.Disclosure requirements – if donation is + set $ it has to be publicly disclosed 7.Monitoring mechanisms – empowers agency (e.g. AEC) to audit party
86
What is the median electoral term length and why?
The median length of electoral terms is 4 years- it lets people create policies and see them through
87
Fixed vs Flexible electoral terms
Fixed- the election date is set and the same every election cycle Flexible- Maximum term set out but govt can call the elections early
88
What is the election term in Australia?
- Dissolves 3 years after the first date of its sitting - can dissolve earlier (flexible)
89
What is the electoral term in the US
Date of the election fixed- must occur first Tuesday of November - 4 years for President, 2 years for Congress, 6 years (1/3 each election) for Senate
90
What is the UK's electoral term summary?
- latest- can be dissolved for a general election on the 5th anniversary of there day it first met - @% days are allowed to prepare for the election
91
What are the 3 Characteristics of the US political system?
1) Federal Federalism= describes the system of shared govt between national and state govt 2) branches of govt senate- 6-year terms 1/3 elected every 2 years Congress- 2 years Presidential- 4 years 3) The Electoral College
92
How do US presidential elections work?
US citizens vote for the electoral college Each state gets 1 member per member of the congress and member of the senate Results: a candidate could win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote
93
What are some of the problems that the US democracy is facing
- Distrust in govt -Polarisation - election of president -> citizens X informed -Congress- gerrymandering - Supreme Court- % of Americans rep by senators voting decreases - State legislators- gridlock and inaction - Public opinion vs policy - Constitution- old and outdate and virtually impossible to change