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Liberal Democracies Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a liberal democracy?

A

A political system that fuses aspects of liberal values and democratic political processes

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2
Q

What is liberalism?

A

Political ideology centered on the idea that society is made up of individuals who should be free to pursue their own interests

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3
Q

What is democracy?

A

System on gov in which the people hold power either directly or through elected representatives

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4
Q

What are some key democratic features of a liberal democracy?

A

legal systems
universal suffrage
representative institutions
rule of law
separation of powers

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5
Q

What are some key liberal features of a liberal democracy?

A

free market
separation of powers
pluralistic society

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6
Q

What are liberal democracies committed to upholding?

A

Fundamental individual human rights and freedoms

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7
Q

How are freedoms and liberties respected in a liberal democracy?

A

In law or a constitutional bill of rights

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8
Q

How are legal and political systems designed?

A

To defend and promote the rights of individuals

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9
Q

Negative liberty

A

Absence of obstacles without constraints on one’s actions

Being able to do what you want without any external interference

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10
Q

What’s an example of negative liberty?

A

Freedom of religion
The ability to practice your religion without gov interference

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11
Q

Positive liberty

A

The capacity to take control of one’s life

The possession of power and resources to achieve one’s goals or become self sufficient

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12
Q

What’s an example of positive liberty?

A

Freedom to access a quality education, healthcare or social welfare payments

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13
Q

Do liberal democracies priorities positive or negative liberties?

A

negative

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14
Q

Are positive or negative liberties easier to protect and uphold?

A

negative

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15
Q

Do positive or negative liberties provide individuals with less choice?

A

positive

(negative provides greater choice)

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16
Q

How can positive liberties restrict other liberties?

A

Restrict some liberties for the favour of others because it requires the redistribution of resources, affirmative action laws or special considerations

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17
Q

How do limits in liberal democracies benefit society overall?

A

Ensures that one person exercising their freedom that they aren’t impinging on another person’s freedoms.

Eg freedom of speech is limited by anti-discrimination laws

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18
Q

Rule of Law

A

All citizens and institutions within a state should be held accountable to the same standard of law to ensure fairness

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19
Q

Laws are applied equally regardless of…

A

status, race, culture, religion

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20
Q

When implementing a rule of law, the society must follow what ideology/values?

A

Laws are known and accessible
Court systems resolve debates in open and partial manner
Innocent until proven guilty
Right to a fair trial
Punishment must be in accordance with the law

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21
Q

Is the freedom to own property a positive or negative liberty? Why?

A

Negative
No one can stop you if you have the funds
If you lack funds/money, that is an obstacle you have to overcome
No external body is preventing you from buying property

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22
Q

Is the freedom to receive welfare when employed a positive or negative liberty? Why?

A

Positive
Not everyone is entitled to it but some have capacity to receive it

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23
Q

Capacity

A

The freedom from constraint or limitation

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24
Q

Why is the separation of powers so important?

A

ensures that no single party has too much power

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25
Why is it important that each branch of gov has different responsibilities to check/balance powers?
To prevent the abuse of power
26
Key features of the Legislative Branch (Parliament)
Responsible for making laws design + debate legislation, pass laws represent interests of local areas or interest groups (through elected representatives) allocating funds and budgets
27
Key features of the Executive Branch (Gov)
Putting laws into action - administrating laws daily tasks implement gov policy and provide gov services maintain public order + peace within states
28
Key features of Judicial Branch (Courts)
Applying the law in individual cases make judgements about laws when disputes over its meaning enforce law thru legal processes determine whether a law is constitutional
28
What is a political compass?
A system used to clarify a person or party's political beliefs
29
Left wing
gov should intervene to promote equality (equal outcomes) wealth should be redistributed to those with less thru high taxes laws that positively discriminate to allow disadvantaged groups more opportunity
29
Right wing
gov should not intervene in free markets to promote individual freedoms free market forces, less gov regulation and lower tax remove impediments to individual opportunity and prosperity
30
Left and right are beliefs about...
economics
31
Authoritarian and libertarian are beliefs about...
social attitudes
32
Authoritarian - social attitudes
favoring obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom respect order + tradition, conservative values in regards to social issues promote group identities based on shared values/culture
33
Libertarian - social issues
favouring personal freedom in private and social life rather than enforcing social rules seek to overturn social norms and traditions that reduce personal liberty promote individual identities based on race, gender etc
34
What is a constitutional monarchy?
Monarch exercises authority in accordance with a written or unwritten constitution
35
How does a constitutional monarchy differ from an absolute monarchy?
in an absolute monarchy, the monarch's powers are limited by law
36
What is the Aus constitution?
A set of rules by which Aus is governed
37
Key features of the Aus constitution
describes composition, power, roles etc of federal parliament details roles of how federal and states share powers to make laws details roles of parliament, executive gov and high courtW
38
What needs to occur to change the constitution?
Constitutional Referendum
39
What are the houses of parliament and how many seats are in each?
House of Representatives - 151 seats Senate - 76 seats
40
Who does the HOR and Senate represent?
HOR - people/citizens (seats represent electorates) Senate - states (12 each state, 2 for territories)
41
What is the primary function of parliament?
make laws, scrutinize actions of the executive and represent the will of the people
42
Who and What is the Governor General?
a person elected by the British monarch based on advice from Aus PM holds executive power commander chief of armed forces must sign all legislation before it becomes a law
43
What is a political party?
an organisation that represents a particular group of people or set of ideas
44
What is the aim of a political party?
elect members to parliament and form gov so their ideas can be implemented
45
What do political parties do?
contest elections, influence gov policies, provide opportunities for citizen participation
46
How often are Aus federal elections held?
every 3 years
47
When can a double dissolution be called?
if a bill fails to pass both houses of parliament 3 times
48
What are Electoral Commissions?
impartial + independent agencies who update + maintain electoral roll, organise + conduct elections, draw electoral boundaries, provide funding to political parties
49
How to Electoral Commissions ensure consistency across Aus?
create rules for conducting elections: same ballot paper design, same voting method (pencil and paper), same process at polling places
50
Compulsory voting policies in Aus
all citizens 18+ must be registered on the electoral roll with their current address
51
Voting process for all citizens of election day
must have name crossed of electoral roll but don't have to submit a valid vote can get vote via post if unable to vote on election day if you don't vote, $20 fine
52
Explain preferential voting? (used by HOR)
rank individual candidates by putting numbers in boxes (must fill all for it to be a valid vote) if a candidate receives more than 50% of first preference votes, they automatically are elected candidate with lowest vote is excluded then votes are transferred to their 2nd preferred option and keeps repeating until one candidate has 50%
53
Explain proportional representation? (used by senate)
produce results in proportion to size of a party's votes eg 50% of vote = 50% of seats multimember electorates (more than one candidate per region/state)
54
Voting Above the Line
single row of boxes of parties voter numbers boxes in order of preference mark at least 6
55
Voting Below the Line
candidates in separate, vertical lists, headed by group/party name voters number boxes in order of preference mark at least 12
56
How are Senate election results determined?
Must secure certain number of votes to be elected (14.3% in states, 33.3% in territories) = quota First count: anyone who achieved quote = elected Surplus then transferred to next candidate according to preferences
57
What were the issues with the 2022 election?
Inaction on climate change Cost of living + economy Gender equality + treatment of women Leadership
58
Why was inaction on climate change an issue in the 2022 electon?
most important for 1/3 of voters eg natural disasters = voters who cared about this were disappointed with gov bc not doing enough
59
Why was cost of living and economy an issue in the 2022 election?
increased prices putting pressure on households war in Ukraine = restricted oil supplies = price increase for petrol and groceries
60
Why was gender equality and treatment of women an issue in the 2022 election?
several members of parliament were accused of sexual misconduct or bullying PM + senior ministers accused of not taking issue seriously women severely underrepresented
61
Why was leadership an issue in the 2022 election?
Scott Morrison = most unpopular leader since 1987 seen as out of touch and superficial actions and statements increased perceptions that gov didn't care dismissive of issues
62
2022 election results
15,460,808 votes cast = 89.74% voted Lowest voter turnout since compulsory voting implemented 16% voters submitted postal vote 32% voted in pre polling booths
63
What evidence is shown to suggest that there was a swing away from major parties?
Independents + minor parties = 12 seats of HOR Greens got 4 HOR seats Liberal suffered most: Coalition lost 17 seats Labor had swing away but not enough to lose seats
64
Coalition voters are typically...
older low levels of education live outside capital cities higher household income
65
Labor voters are typically...
Higher levels of education Live in capital or regional citiesG
66
Green voters are typically...
more likely to be female born in Aus no trade qualification
67
Independent voters are typically...
high levels of education live outside capital city low household income
68
Explain the racial demographic in America
333 million citizens White = 60% Hispanic = 18% Black = 12.5% Asian = 5.7% Native American = 2%
69
What has caused such racial diversity in America?
immigration
70
What is the GDP per capita in America?
$59,500
71
What is the value of America's economy and how much of the world's GDP does it make up?
$20.8 trillion 24% of world GDP
72
What does the US Federal gov do?
make treaties, declare war, conduct foreign affairs, regulate trade + communication between states
73
In what ways is the US state gov more powerful than Aus?
each state has its own constitution responsible for conducting elections, welfare programs, welfare programs, minumim wage, working conditions
74
How many local gov regions are there and what do they do?
3134 counties local school boards, police + fire departments, district attorneys, courts + prisons
75
The US federal executive consists of...
the president + vice president (elected through elections every 4 years for maximum term of 8) Cabinet - appointed by president/not allowed to sit in congress
76
What is the US Legislative branch called and what are its roles?
Congress 2 houses: HOR and Senate HOR elected 2 years Senate elected 6 years Can impeach the president or supreme court justices
77
What is the US Judicial branch called and what are its roles? How are judges elected?
Supreme Court Judges = appointed by president and confirmed by congress Serve for life but can retire Make ruling on whether laws are consistent with the US constitution
78
What is the US constitution?
the oldest written constitution in use and the first to outline liberal democratic values
79
What is the purpose of the US constitiution?
limit gov power and secure individual liberties
80
How to make amendments to state legislatures?
2/3 vote of both houses of congress or by convention called by 2/3 of seats must be ratified by 3/4 of state legislature
81
Can citizens vote on amendments?
No
82
What is the Bill of Rights?
First 10 amendments that provide constitutional rights to ensure individual rights and freedoms are upheld effectively and harder to undermine
83
How does the Bill of Rights reflect Americas values?
Values: freedom and individual rights Source of political division
84
Republican Party Ideology
conservative less taxes +regulation on businesses individual enterprise family + christian values
85
Republican power base groups and locations
Groups: Evangelical Christians Ppl living in rural areas Ppl w/o uni degrees Older Americans Locations: southern states interior states suburbs of larger cities rural areas Alaska
86
Democratic party ideology
liberal more gov spending on welfare more tax on wealthy progressive
87
Democratic powerbase groups and locations
Groups: racial minorities ppl with uni degrees ppl living in cities young ppl Locations: northern states pacific coast states urban areas Great Lakes region Hawaii
88
Are US Federal elections held on odd or even years?
even
89
What day is US election held on?
"The Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November' =less voter turnout bc midweek and ppl are busy
90
When are state and local gov usually elected?
same time as federal elections
91
What impacts does non compulsory voting have?
frequency + midweek = discourage ppl from coming out to vote eg 2020 presidential election = 67% US parties = extreme so focus on how many of your party supporters vote (political parties have to spend lots of money to convince and persuade ppl to vote)
92
Who is responsible to running US state elections? What does this mean?
States run state elections = inconsistency and big differences depending on where you live = different electoral systems (preferential, run off etc) = gerrymandering (rigging) the election can occur
93
What does a candidate require to become a president?
US citizen born in the USA over the age of 35
94
What is the benefit of running for US elections the Feb-May the year before the election?
able to develop a national following electorate can get to know them
95
How many electors are there? US
538 (based on population)
96
How does a candidate become elected via the electoral college system?
most votes in state gets the most electoral college votes winner takes all - even if slight majority, all electoral college votes go to the majority vote and wins the most primaries in the party nominee
97
When is the Party's nominee confirmed?
at a National Convention in late August
98
How is the electoral college system undemocratic?
it is possible to become president without winning most votes overall winner takes all system smaller rural states are over represented (advantage to Republican)
99
What were the 3 main issues in the 2020 presidential campaign?
Health + covid 19 Donald Trump Judicial appointments

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