Government And Law

Question 1

Voting

Answer 1

Compulsory
Age 18+
Secret ballot
Free and safe
Pay fine if fail to vote

Question 2

Raising matters with representatives

Answer 2

Contact and raise concerns about government policy

Question 3

The Aus Constitution

Answer 3

1900
In action 1901
Established high court - ultimate power to APPLY and INTERPRET laws
Change through voting in referendum
Eg 1967 - aboriginal counted toward census

Question 4

Referendum

Answer 4

Double majority required
Both major in major states and across the nation

Question 5

Government control

Answer 5

• Legislative = MAKE laws (Parliament)
• Executive = PUT laws into practice (Prime Minister and Governor-General)
• Judicial = INTERPRET and APPLY laws (Courts)

Question 6

Head of State

Answer 6

the King
Govern-General = king’s representative
Independent of all parties

No day to day role for the King

One governor represents the King in each state

Question 7

Constitutional monarchy

Answer 7

King acts in accordance with constitution

Leader = Prime Minister

Question 8

Governor-General

Answer 8

Neutral

• Signing Bills into law - Royal Assent
• Perform ceremonial duties
• Approve appointment of government
• Start process for a federal election
• Act as Commander-in-Chief of Defence Force

Also has reserve powers

Question 9

Leaders

Answer 9

Head of state = King
Governor-general = represent the King
Governor = represent the King in each state

Prime minister = leader of government
Premier = leader of state
Chief Minister = leader if territory

Government minister = responsible for an area of government (chosen by prime minister)

Member of parliament (MP) = elected representative of people in parliament or state

Senator = elected representative of state or territory in parliament

Mayor or shire president = leader of local government

Councillor = elected member of local council

Question 10

Houses

Answer 10

2 houses
- house of representatives
- the senate

Being voted in federal election

Question 11

House of representatives

Answer 11

Lower house
People’s house

Over 150 MPs elected to the house
Number based on population of each state

Role: consider, debate and vote on proposals of new laws or changes to the laws

Question 12

The Senate

Answer 12

Upper house
Equal between states - 12 each states and 2 each territories = 76 total

Role: consider, debate, vote

Question 13

State government

Answer 13

Own parliament and constitution
State leader - premier
Territory leader - chief minister

Governor - King
Northern territory - administrator

States have rights recognised by the constitution - have power to pass laws
Territories don’t - laws can be altered or revoked by government

Question 14

Local government

Answer 14

Planning and delivering services to local community

Question 15

3 level government- Aus gov

Answer 15

Tax
National economy
Immigration
Employment assistance
Postal and communication
Social security (pension and family support)
Defence
Trade and commerce
Airport
Foreign affairs

Question 16

3 level gov - State

Answer 16

Hospitals
Schools
Roads
Forestry
Police
Public transport

Question 17

3 level gov - local

Answer 17

Street signs
Bridges, local roads, footpaths
Parks
Food
Noise
Animal control
Rubbish
Library
Aged care, child care
Building permits
Social planning
Environmental

Question 18

Main parties

Answer 18

Liberal
Labor
Nationals
Greens

Question 19

Forming gov

Answer 19

Federal election - choose party
Leader of party becomes prime minister

Party with second largest number of members in the house of representatives forms the opposition

Prime minister recommends members of house of representatives or senators to become ministers

Governor-general approves appointment of prime minister and ministers

Gov ministers responsible for an area (portfolio) eg employment

Ministers with the most important portfolios make up the Cabinet - key decision making body of gov

Question 20

Making laws

Answer 20

Bill = propose and introduce new law or change law

2 houses consider, debate and vote

Majority members of each house agree, Bill goes to governor-general

Governor-general signs bill and it becomes law - royal assent

Question 21

Enforcing laws

Answer 21

The courts:
- independent
- evidence

Judges and magistrates
- highest authority
- independent
- appointed by gov

Juries
- innocent or not
- group of citizen randomly chosen

Police
- maintain peace and order
- serious crime to bribe police, even just offer