Australian parliament

Question 1

What are the two systems Australian parliament is linked to?

Answer 1

The English and American systems

Question 2

What is the Australian system often referred to as?

Answer 2

Washminster sytem

Question 3

When was the final draft of Australia’s constitution drawn?

Answer 3

July 1900

Question 4

The Australian parliament took inspiration from the American system by dividing power at what level?

Answer 4

Federal/National level

Question 5

How did Australia run its government before it was federated?

Answer 5

It operated as mini states with their own little constitutions

Question 6

When was the stature of Westminster passed?

Answer 6

1942

Question 7

What did the stature of Westminster allow?

Answer 7

For the monarch to override any laws

Question 8

What is Veto?

Answer 8

To refuse or reject a proposed law or resolution

Question 9

What is a caucus?

Answer 9

A meeting of the parliamentary membership of a political party

Question 10

What is the system that holds two houses of parliament called?

Answer 10

Bi cameral

Question 11

What does Bi cameral refer to?

Answer 11

The system that holds two houses of parliament

Question 12

What is the legislative branch in Australia?

Answer 12

House of representatives, Senate

Question 13

What is the legislative branch in the USA?

Answer 13

House of representatives, Senate

Question 14

What is the legislative branch in Britain?

Answer 14

House of commons, House of lords

Question 15

What is the Executive arm of the British parliament?

Answer 15

“The queens government”

Question 16

What is the “cabinet?”

Answer 16

Includes 15 members including the vice president

Question 17

The 15 members including the vice president is known as?

Answer 17

The cabinet

Question 18

How long do money bills in British parliament have to be passed?

Answer 18

One month

Question 19

What is the minority in government known as?

Answer 19

The opposition

Question 20

Where do bills originate in AU parliament?

Answer 20

House of representatives

Question 21

What happens if the senate rejects a bill twice in 6 months?

Answer 21

The governor general can call for a election of the senate known as a “double dissolution”

Question 22

What is the American model of government based on?

Answer 22

Separation and balance

Question 23

How is the American model of government more separated than other governments?

Answer 23

It contains 3 distinct political bodies all with their own veto powers

Question 24

What is more powerful out of the House of Commons and Lords, and why?

Answer 24

House of Lords as it controls the passage of bills

Question 25

What is Supply?

Answer 25

The name for a bill that when passed by parliament, authorise the treasurer to pay their obligation

Question 26

What are standing orders?

Answer 26

The written rules that govern the conduct, procedures and regulations of the proceedings of the houses of parliament

Question 27

The written rules that govern the conduct, procedures and regulations of the proceedings of the houses of parliament are known as?

Answer 27

Standing orders

Question 28

What is the gag tactic?

Answer 28

Often used by the government to end a debate as there is a vote called whether or not they want to stop it

Question 29

What is the guillotine?

Answer 29

A time limit placed on the length of parliamentary debate by the government

Question 30

A time limit placed on the length of parliamentary debate by the government is known as?

Answer 30

The guillotine

Question 31

The concept of "party discipline" is inherited from?

Answer 31

British parliament

Question 32

What is Party discipline?

Answer 32

The ability of a parliamentary group of a political party to get its members to support the policies of their party leadership in order to stay in power

Question 33

The ability of a parliamentary group of a political party to get its members to support the policies of their party leadership in order to stay in power is known as?

Answer 33

Party discipline

Question 34

Party members are trustees not delegates, and are meant to represent the interests of their?

Answer 34

Party

Question 35

The operation of parliament has been criticised because political parties use their numbers to stifle debate through the use of?

Answer 35

Standing orders

Question 36

What are two Standing orders?

Answer 36

The gag, Guillotine

Question 37

What is the purpose for setting time apart in the parliamentary day to ask questions?

Answer 37

To enable the opposition to ask the PM and government ministers about significant political issues

Question 38

How long are the questions during question time?

Answer 38

45 seconds

Question 39

How long is the PM along with their government ministers given to respond in question time?

Answer 39

4 minutes

Question 40

What does the committee system allow?

Answer 40

Members of the opposition to examine a bill and recommend amendments that are to be made to it along with giving those whom hold a special expertise to further examine the bill in detail

Question 41

How many committees are there in the Australian Senate?

Answer 41

23

Question 42

How many committees are there in the Australian House of reps?

Answer 42

28

Question 43

How many countries use the committee system?

Answer 43

UK, US, AU

Question 44

Committees have the power to?

Answer 44

Gather evidence, call on expert advice and even ask for witnesses

Question 45

What has transformed the senate from a states house to a review chamber alike the US?

Answer 45

The role of political parties in the Senate with the politicians commonly voting along party lines

Question 46

What is a shadow minister?

Answer 46

A member of the opposition who is a spokesperson for a specific area of policy and represents alternatives to the government minister in this area

Question 47

A member of the opposition who is a spokesperson for a specific area of policy and represents alternatives to the government minister in this area is known as a?

Answer 47

Shadow minister

Question 48

What are the Backbenches?

Answer 48

The place where members of parliament sit who are not ministers or shadow ministers

Question 49

The place where members of parliament sit who are not ministers or shadow ministers is known as the?

Answer 49

Backbenches

Question 50

What is the portfolio?

Answer 50

An area of responsibility for which a minister is in charge

Question 51

An area of responsibility for which a minister is in charge is known as the?

Answer 51

Portfolio

Question 52

What is the AEC?

Answer 52

The Australian Electoral Commission

Question 53

What is the main role of the AEC?

Answer 53

To keep an accurate electoral role, conduct federal elections and referendums

Question 54

What is preferential voting?

Answer 54

The elector must show a preference for all candidates listed on the ballot paper

Question 55

At the federal level, preferential voting is used for?

Answer 55

The house of representatives

Question 56

What type of voting representation is used for the senate?

Answer 56

Proportional representation

Question 57

What is proportional representation?

Answer 57

A group of electoral systems used to elect candidates in multimember electorates

Question 58

What does PR stand for?

Answer 58

Proportional representation

Question 59

What is the point of preferential voting?

Answer 59

To avoid wasting votes

Question 60

When votes are counted in Preferential voting system, what does the winner need to achieve?

Answer 60

50%+1 vote of all votes

Question 61

What is a disadvantage of preferential voting?

Answer 61

It gives smaller candidates and parties less of a chance of winning

Question 62

What allows smaller parties to gain power in the senate?

Answer 62

The senate is based purely on a proportion of the vote

Question 63

What are three points FOR compulsory voting?

Answer 63

Enhances democratic legitimacy, elected leaders hold a majority of electoral opinion and participation is maximised

Question 64

What are three points AGAINST compulsory voting?

Answer 64

Infringes on democratic right or freedom of apathy, increases amount of informal votes and most other democracies have voluntary voting