Knowledge Questions

Question 1

Define representative government

Answer 1

A government that is reflective of the people they represent

Question 2

Define responsible government

Answer 2

Responsible Government is a system where the government is answerable to elected representatives of the people for its actions.

Question 3

Define the Australian Constitution

Answer 3

The Australian Constitution is the set of rules Australia is governed by

Question 4

What is a double majority?

Answer 4

A double majority is referred to as a majority of those voting nationwide, as well as the separate majorities of states.

Question 5

What is a minority government?

Answer 5

A minority government occurs when no political party has enough seats to control government.

Question 6

What is the House of Representatives?

Answer 6

The House of Representatives is known as the lower house. The role of this cabinet is to represent the interests of their constituents. Introduce, debate and then pass or reject proposed laws

Question 7

What is the Senate

Answer 7

The senate is known as the upper house of the Federal Parliament. The role of the Senate is to make sure each state is represented in equal numbers of members. Review bills from the House of Representatives.

Question 8

What is a confidence and supply agreement?

Answer 8

Denoting an arrangement in a hung parliament in which an opposition party agrees not to vote against a minority government in votes of confidence or budgetary matter but reserves the right to oppose other legislation.

Question 9

Define exclusive powers

Answer 9

Powers which may only be exercised by the Commonwealth Parliament

Question 10

Define concurrent powers

Answer 10

Powers which can be exercised by both the Commonwealth and State Parliaments. If a State passes a law which conflicts with Commonwealth law s109 applies

Question 11

Define residual powers

Answer 11

Any area that is not covered in the Constitution is considered to be within the states’ powers to make laws and is called residual power.

Question 12

What is a majority government?

Answer 12

A majority government refers to one or multiple governing parties that hold an absolute majority of seats in legislature.

Question 13

What is parliament made up of?

Answer 13

The Parliament is made up of the Queen (represented by the Governor General), the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Question 14

What is Governance?

Answer 14

The way that organisations or countries are managed at the highest level, and the systems for doing this

Question 15

Define s44

Answer 15

Section 44 of the Australian Constitution lists the grounds for disqualification on who may become a candidate for election to the Parliament of Australia.

Question 16

Define s51

Answer 16

Section 51 of the Constitution of Australia enumerates the legislative powers granted to Federal Parliament by the Australian States at Federation

Question 17

Define s109

Answer 17

If a State passes a law which conflicts with Commonwealth law s109 applies
Section 109 states ‘When a law of a State is inconsistent with the law of the Commonwealth, the latter shall prevail and the former shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be invalid.’

Question 18

Define s128

Answer 18

The Constitution provides in s128 that it can only be changed by a special procedure called a referendum.

Question 19

What is the role of the High Court?

Answer 19

The High Court has two main roles. It states in the Constitution that the High Court of Australia is to act as the guardian of the Australian Constitution. The High Court decides disputes arising from the Constitution and is the ultimate court of appeal for Australian courts.

Question 20

Define legislative power

Answer 20

The making of law is called legislative power and rests with the representative governments of the Commonwealth and States, when assembled as parliaments.

Question 21

Define executive power

Answer 21

The implementing or carrying out of law is called executive power and is handled by the Executive or Cabinet, consisting of the Governor and the Ministers of the Government in the States

Question 21

Define judiciary power

Answer 21

Interpreting the law. This is carried out by the courts and tribunals

Question 22

Define accountable government

Answer 22

Accountability involves being called to account to some authority for one’s actions

Question 23

Define legislation

Answer 23

Law made by Parliament. Also known as an Act.

Question 24

Define case law

Answer 24

Law made by Judges.

Question 25

Define governor general

Answer 25

The crowns representative in Australia

Question 26

Define Hung Parliament

Answer 26

Some elections don’t produce a clear majority. When this occurs, it is known as a hung parliament.

Question 27

Define unicameral parliament

Answer 27

One house- Queensland parliament’s legislative assembly

Question 28

Define bicameral parliament

Answer 28

Two houses- Federal parliament’s House of Representatives and Senate

Question 29

What is the purpose of the Constitution?

Answer 29

The Australian Constitution describes the composition, role and powers of the Australian Parliament. It sets out how the Australian and state parliaments share the power to make laws.

Question 30

Explain the relationship between the High Court and the Australian Constitution

Answer 30

It is the Constitution that established the High Court of Australia as guardian of the Constitution

Question 30

Why is the principle of an independent judiciary so important?

Answer 30

Judges are free to make decisions on a case by case basis and not feel pressured by outside forces.

Question 31

State three advantages of a Unicameral Parliament

Answer 31

Less expensive, No duplication of work, Progressive legislation

Question 32

State three disadvantages of a Unicameral Parliament

Answer 32

Lack of scrutiny, Less representation, Lack of diversity

Question 33

What was the significance of Commonwealth v Tasmania?

Answer 33

The Commonwealth v Tasmania case is significant as the High Court allowed the widening of the external affairs power in s51 of the Constitution to enable Australia to meet the legal obligations of international law.

Question 34

What was the effect of commonwealth v Tasmania?

Answer 34

This had the effect of also allowing the Commonwealth significantly more power as Australia is a party to many international treaties that require legislation, which in conjunction with s109 can override state legislation in many areas.

Question 35

What was the significance of Commonwealth v ‘Kevin and Jennifer’?

Answer 35

The decision demonstrated the significant capacity of the Australian justice system to embrace difference by determining that gender is not biological, and that social and psychological factors must be considered.

Question 36

What legal precedent did Commonwealth v ‘Kevin and Jennifer’ set?

Answer 36

It set a legal precedent that gender should be defined in a modern and contemporary way and gave people hope that transgender persons could receive equal civil rights in a number of areas.