Chapter 4: Our Political System Flashcards
when was the commonwealth of Australia formed
January 1st 1901
what system is our political system based on?
Westminster system used in Britain
5 major principals in our political and legal system
1) head of state (Queen) and head of government (PM) must be two different people
2) two houses of parliament (bicameral) lower and upper house
3) three different section: legislature (parliament) , executive (ministers and cabinets) and the Judiciary: courts
4) must be kept separate (separation of power)
5) ministers in parliament are responsible to the people and to parliament for the actions of their department
What are the three sections of government
- Federal Government
- State Government
- Local Government
Responsibilities’ of Federal Government
employment
trade
defence
airports
Responsibilities of State and Territory
health (hospitals)
police services
education (primary and secondary)
environment protection
Responsibilities of Federal
town planning public libraries sewerage kindergarten rubbish collection
what are the two houses of parliament
lower house: House of Reps
Upper house: Senate
The House of Reps
- has 150 members
- each member represents an electorate aprox 90 000 voters
- political party or coalition parties that wins most seats in the lower house in elections, becomes government and leader of the party becomes the PM
- party with the second most seats becomes the opposition and the party’s leader becomes the opposition leader
- PM selects group of senior ministers to be part of a cabinet, which meets to make key decisions of government. Ministers are given special portfolios
- these sit in front near the PM and are called ‘frontbenchers’ other elected members of their party sit behind them and are called ‘backbenchers’
The Senate
- there are 76 senators
- 2 members for territory and 12 for states
- state senators serve for six years
- territory senators serve for 3 years
- main job is to be house of review
- half term election
- tries to ensure the interests of state and the rights of all Australians
Rules to creating a party
- registered to Australian Electoral Commissions
- aims of the party
- party must have at least 500 eligible voters, unless the party already has a member in parliament
main policy of Australian Labour Party
- socialist party
- abolish poverty
- share wealth equally
- create more jobs
main policy of Liberal
- capitalist party
- minimises taxes
- encourage private government and do not compete with them
- just society
7steps for election
1) PM decides date of federal election, if GG agrees, Australian Electoral Commissioner instructed to hold election
2) once election is announced, you have three days to register
3) political candidates are nominated to stand at an election by filling out a form and paying a deposit
4) propaganda and advertising
5) election date
6) counting starts the minute voting stops
7) results are announced
8 steps to creating an Act of Parliament
1) proposed a new law in House of Reps
2) A bill is drafted
3) Distributed to everyone and goes through the first reading
4) Bill goes through second reading, debates, vote to be passed to the next stage
5) bill is debated again section by section
6) bill including changes made during step 5 are put through a vote to proceed to the next stage
7) upper house goes through the process of 3-6
8) Governor general approves made into Act of parliament.
