Australian System of Government - key features

Question 1

What are the roles of the Australian government?

Answer 1

• enforce the law and settle disputes unbiasedly.
• create laws reflect majority morals to keep peace.
• provide citizens with basic necessities.
• ensure a reasonable standard of living.

Question 2

What are the three levels of government?

Answer 2

Federal - responsible for all of Australia (Commonwealth Parliament), law making powers include defence, marriage, customs and citizenship.
State - responsible for needs of respective state, law making powers include education, health services, water, electricity.
Local - responsible for needs of specific region, law making powers include, housing permits, road signage, pet registration, by-laws.

Question 3

What are principles of government?

Answer 3

Statements upon which the government is operated aiming to represent and protect the people so the nation is run in a fair and just manner.

Question 4

What are the four Australian principles of government?

Answer 4

1. The government must protect the rights and freedoms of individuals.
2. Governments must make laws that reflect the views and values of the people.
3. Governments must be held accountable to the people.
4. There must be a separation of powers.

Question 5

What is the separation of powers?

Answer 5

The 3 tiered system ensuring no single parliamentary group has all the power over both political and legal systems. It acts as a check for each group to check non of the others are breaching their power.
- Executive: power to administer law (GG)
- Legislature: power to make the law (parliament)
- Judiciary: power to interpret and apply the law (courts)