4.1 Flashcards
(27 cards)
Define election
procedure allowing eligible citizens to hold elected officials to account for their previous term in office and to delegate popular sovereignty to elected officials for next term of office.
electoral process criteria
elections must be free, allow fair expression, must be regular,
define statutory authority
executive agency established by parliamentary statute.Australian electoral commission. electoral act 1992
Preferential voting (absolute majority)(HOR)
Based on single member electorates, electors list candidates in order of preference.if no candidate wins the least preferred eliminated and second preference is distributed until absolute majority is achieved.
define absolute majority
50% +1 vote
What is proportional voting (senate)
electors vote for candidates in order of preference. to win a quota is needed.pres are distributed at their transfer value to second preferred candidate.
above the line
below the line
define accountability
both houses should be directly elected and appointed, and answerable to the people.
what is the chain of responsibility ( westminster style) and
shown through regular elections.the executive government can remake or unmake houses. ministers too need to take responsibility in parliment
FOR Elections
- elected representatives and accountable to voters
- held to account in next election -regular free and fair
- elections are conducted by Australian Electoral commission
Against elections
- electors vote for policies which often aren’t carried out
- media effects sway in votes
- imbalance of power
- senators in favour who’s name is on top of voting ticket
- performance in parliament
Define Parliamentary privilege
special right given to parliamentarians to carry out job without fear of prosecution in courts.
- example is freedom of speech
- parliament can give sanctions for misuse of power
where does privledge committe exist
both houses
what is the committee of privledge
- consists 11 members
- investigate specific breach of privilege
- role is to investigate and advance instead of punishments
- The house then either fines or imprisons misconduct
what do standing orders do
- speaker calls standing of order when members misconduct themselves in parliament
- members may call “point of order” to interpret standing order and to make a ruling
- presiding officer may if continued behaviour create a period of exclusion
define Hansard
allows scrutinise for voters
question time PROS
- aloes backbenchers to ask questions for ministers
- can be with or without notice
- 1 Hour committed in afternoon
Question time Cons
Question time CONS
- ineffective scrutinising the executive
- Ministers may give irrelevant invasive answers
- Dorothy Dixers
- Media emphasise on performance rather than anders
Matter or public importance
proposed to senate for discussion.
urgency motion
takes the form of a motion
must have support of 4 other senators( 5 total) before mayter can be debated.debate conclusion of matter importance or not.
Grievance Debates
Allow members to debate for 10 minuets about any matter of concern. Parliament allows and hour and quarter per week for this.
Adjournment debate
The debate concerning the motion to adjourn or suspend the sitting of parliament to another day