intro Flashcards
(27 cards)
define Legislation
The process by which our laws are made, including the processes by which lawmakers are determined
define federal law
division of power between the states and the commonwealth
define laws
rules that society makes so that people can live together with order or fairness, of a formal nature, which if breached may result in some sort of consequences enforceable by society
what is the role of the auditor general department
independent from government, work for and investigates government
characteristics of the House of Representatives
also known as a lower house, 150 members elected from each electorate, electorates split up according to population.
characteristics of the Senate
Upper house, 76 members, 12 from each state and 2 from each mainland territory. ability to block legislation that originated in the house of representatives
Role of Governor-General
Shares executive power with the prime minister appoints ambassadors, ministers, and judges under the advice of the PM
what are the three levels of government
federal, state and local
what are the three arms of government
legislators, executive, and judiciary
role of legislators
parliament, responsible for debating and voting on new laws to be introduced under power of section 51 of the constitution.
role of executive
Uphold the laws established by legislators, minsters are members of both executive and legislators
role of judiciary
the legal arm of the federal government, Independent from the other two arms, responsible for enforcing the laws and deciding whether the other 2 arms are acting within their powers.
who is the prime minister
leader appointed by the cabinet and head of the government
who does the cabinet consist of?
consists of appointed MP’s, they direct government policy and make decisions about national issues.
what is the prime minister the leader of?
the coalition, which has the majority of the support in the house of representatives.
how does someone become the prime minister?
the party must win a majority number of seats in a federal election, meaning they must hold at least 76.
define hung parliament
What a party does not win the required seats needed, so the party forms an alliance with coalition or crossbenches
what is a confidence and supply agreement
The notion that a minor party or independents support the government by voting in favor or abstaining while retaining their right to vote on conscience.
who are crossbenchers
Members of smaller parties or MP’s acting as an independent
how is the Australian political system described
as a two-party system
characteristics of the Labour party
center-left (moderately socialist policy), social democratic, represent the working class
characteristics of the Liberal party
center right (capitalistic policy), middle class, represents business
name three smaller federal parties
greens, family first, and Australian party
what is a confidence and supply agreement
the notion that a minor party or independent support the government by voting in favor or abstaining while retaining their right to vote on conscience
