Legal Studies

Question 1

What are the three branches of parliament? (separation of powers)

Answer 1

Executive, Judiciary, Legislation

Question 2

The two houses of Parliament? What colours are they?

Answer 2

House of Representatives and The Senate (green and red respectively)

Question 3

How is a law passed?

Answer 3

A bill is read out in the House of Representatives. There is a 1st and 2nd reading, then optional committees and changes to the bill. There is a 3rd reading, and there is a vote, and the bill gets passed to The Senate. The same process happens again, and the Governor-General must sign the bill. Then it becomes a law.

Question 4

The three levels of government are…? (or federation of states)

Answer 4

Federal, State, Local

Question 5

Two differences between a constitutional monarchy and a republic?

Question 6

What is a constitutional monarchy?

Question 7

What is a republic?

Question 8

What is a democracy?

Answer 8

A system of government by the people in which representatives are elected

Question 9

What is representative democracy?

Answer 9

Australia is a representative democracy, which means Australians vote to elect members of parliament to make laws and decisions on their behalf. It is compulsory for Australian citizens 18 years and over to enrol to vote. It is also compulsory to attend a voting place on election day or to vote by mail.

Question 10

What do the three branches of parliament do?

Answer 10

Legislative: has power to make the laws. Executive: has power to enforce (execute) the laws. Judiciary: has the power to apply laws and punish people who commit offenses.

Question 11

Why is democracy successful?

Answer 11

Basic rights, Freedom, Equality, Accountability, Elections, Constitution

Question 12

What is Australia known as?

Answer 12

Australia is a constitutional monarchy, because the head of state is the King, even though the real power lies with the Parliament. It is also known as a representative democracy, because the citizens elect their government.

Question 13

What is bicameralism?

Answer 13

A bicameral parliament has two houses and the Crown.

Question 14

How many parliaments does Australia have?

Answer 14

9- 6 state parliaments and 3 territory parliaments

Question 15

What are the houses in the Commonwealth parliament called?

Answer 15

Lower house: House of Representatives. Upper house: the Senate. Role of the Crown: Governor-General

Question 16

What are the houses of the Victorian parliament called?

Answer 16

Lower house: Legislative Assembly. Upper house: Legislative Council. Role of the Crown: Governor

Question 17

What is the ranked tiering for Federal Parliament, and seat numbers?

Answer 17

House of Representatives (150 seats) -> Senate (76 seats) -> Governor-General

Question 18

What is the ranked tiering for State Parliament (Victoria), and seat numbers?

Answer 18

Legislative Assembly (88 seats) -> Legislative Council (40 seats) -> Governor

Question 19

Which parliaments are unicameral?

Answer 19

Queensland, the Northern Territory, and ACT only have one house - the lower house called the Legislative Assembly. There are no governors in the territories.