Government Revision

Question 1

Define Democracy

Answer 1

Participation of all citizens in electing government. Government is elected by the people through free and open elections. In Australia, you have to be over 18.

Question 2

Define sovereignty

Answer 2

State independence. Control by one group over a defined territory.

Question 3

Identify two political features that indicate that Australia is a member of the Commonwealth.

Answer 3

The King is the head of state and the west minister system of government and a governor-general, constitutional monarchy.

Question 4

Outline the complications with the concept of ‘head of state’ in Australia.

Answer 4

He (the king) doesn’t live here and runs other places as well. Not elected by the people this challenges the concept of democracy. They are born into it and can’t be voted out.

Question 5

Before the federation, what were the colonies that made up ‘Australia’

Answer 5

VIC, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, TAS

Question 6

Identify the date when the Commonwealth of Australia was formed

Answer 6

January 1st 1901

Question 7

Identify the three levels of government in Australia

Answer 7

Federal, State, Local

Question 8

Describe what is meant by the term ‘division of powers’.

Answer 8

Who and What government level is responsible for each government portfolio, i.e. state government is responsible for education and health, Federal Government is responsible for defense and immigration.

Question 9

What is the difference between the ‘division of powers’ and the ‘separation of powers’?

Answer 9

Division is who is responsible and separation is who can decide and change what and so they don’t interfere with each other which is more likely to lead to corruption and miss use of power.

Question 10

Provide a brief explanation of the division of powers:

Executive arm:
Judicial arm:
Legislative arm:

Answer 10

Executive arm: government cabinet ministers

Judicial arm: Judge and Court

Legislative arm: Parliament House of reps and Senate

Question 11

How many electorates are in the House of Representatives?

Answer 11

151 electorates

Question 12

How many senators represent each state? Is this the same for ACT and Northern Territory? If not, how does it differ?

Answer 12

12 per state, 2 per terror

Question 13

How often federal elections held?

Answer 13

Every 3 years

Question 14

Explain the voting system ‘past-the-first-post’. Which countries still use this system?

Answer 14

Only vote 1 electorate and whoever gets the most wins

Question 15

Which voting system do we use in Australia. Briefly explain how this system works.

Answer 15

Preferential, number the candidate to make sure people can vote for who they want without it not mattering.

Question 16

What does absolute majority mean?

Answer 16

Getting more than 50 percent of the votes

Question 17

Distinguish between formal and informal votes.

Answer 17

Formal votes are good and number in every box and informal votes is not completed of scribbled on etc.

Question 18

What are the three ways your vote can be considered ‘informal’?

Answer 18

Ticks, crosses, missed or not completed

Question 19

What is a donkey vote? Is a donkey vote classified as formal or informal?

Answer 19

Voting the person on the vote number 1 and then go down 1,2,3,4

Question 20

What are two functions of the media in Australia? How are these functions different?

Answer 20

Advertisement and education for policies and adverts to tell you the who, what and why

Question 21

Why is it impossible for the media to be truly objective?

Answer 21

Because it is owned by real people and unconsciously they will do that

Question 22

Explain the impact of traditional media, social media, and new media on Australian politics.

Answer 22

Media and new media on Australian politics - social media can have fake news and be biased

Question 23

23. Explain the difference between traditional media, social media, and news media.

Answer 23

Traditional Media is Newspaper, television and radio, it is influential as media gets leaked (older people)
Social Media (Instagram and twitter) and new media (channel 7) is interactive but social media is becoming a lot more influential. (younger audience) - less able to be verified

Question 24

Define the term ‘communism’ in your own words

Answer 24

Most or everything run and controlled by the government