Topics 1 + 2 Flashcards
(36 cards)
Lower House Roles
House of Representatives (Cwth)
Legislative Assembly (VIC)
Can introduce new bills, amend existing acts
Politicians elected for:
- 3 years (Cwth)
- 4 years (VIC)
- 151 members (Cwth)
- 88 members (VIC)
Upper House Roles
Senate (Cwth)
Legislative Council (VIC)
Can introduce new bills, amend existing acts
Politicians elected for:
- 6 years (Cwth)
- 4 years (VIC)
- 76 members
- 40 members
Kings Representative
We need ‘royal assent’ for our laws to be passed.
A Kings Representative is installed to make decisions on behalf of the King. This person is called the Governor General (Cwth) or the Governor (State).
Not elected. Cannot introduce bills.
First reading
- Very simple
- Bill is introduced
- Members of parliament are given a brochure of proposal
- Agreement is made to meet at a later date to debate and discuss bill.
Second reading
- Members discuss proposed law with rest of parliament.
- Other members debate and discuss the proposal
- Once all have had their input, a vote takes place to decide whether the bill progresses to the next stage.
Consideration in Detail
- If the vote is successful, progresses to this stage.
- The bill is now scrutinised, sentence by sentence by each member of parliament.
- Amendments, changes, or recommendations are put forward.
Third Reading
- After all words have been debated and agreed upon
- One final vote to decide whether the bill progresses to next house
Role Of The Second House
These steps are repeated in the second house. If at any point a change is made it goes back to the first house to start again.
Royal Assent
- If all the previous eight steps are successful, the final
step for a bill to become a law is for royal assent. - This is signed off by the King’s Representative.
- It is extremely rare that this step is knocked back.
- Once signed off, it becomes law.
Reasons laws may need to change:
- Response to changes in societal values and norms.
Example: Same-sex marriage - Response to the changing political, social or economic
conditions in the country.
Example: Laws around driving under the influence of alcohol
and/or drugs - Response to changes in technology.
Example: Laws around the use of drones flying over private
spaces.
Changing Laws
For a law to change, the process is exactly the same
as what we have discussed for a new law.
Example of Changing Laws:
An area of law that is a big talking point at the moment
revolves around pill-testing at music festivals.
It is a battle of old society vs. new society.
Old society refuses to acknowledge that recreational drugs are
a common practice in our country.
New society recognises that it is and wants to do something
about making using drugs safer.
Demonstration
A demonstration is a gathering of people (normally in a very
public place) to voice their concern about a chosen topic.
The effectiveness of a demonstration can depend on:
Number of people
Topic of demonstration
Behaviour of demonstrators
If a demonstration can draw a large number of participants,
it is normally going to be more influential.
Eg. invasion day demonstration
Evaluation of demonstrations
‘Evaluating’ the effectiveness of
demonstrations needs to consider the
following:
Strengths:
- Easy and cheap to organise, especially online
- Can attract a lot of media attention which can help influence politicians and attract new supporters
- If well organised, can attract new support.
Weaknesses
- Hard to attract a lot of people - people have to make an effort to actually attend
- If it gets out of hand/violent, will get negative attention - this can only lead to loss of suport.
- Parliament can easily ignore, especially if you don’t getmany people attending.
Balance of Power Definition
- Balance of power refers to the position held by minor parties or individual members of parliament when their vote is necessary for bills or motions to be passed.
- Such minor parties or independents are said to hold the balance of power - without their support, the government cannot get enough votes to pass bills.
Evaluating the Balance of Power
Good thing that the party in charge does not hold the balance of power as:
- It means the government does not have too much power.
- The views of more members of the community are represented.
Bad thing:
- Not very democratic, different party than what was voted for.
Role of Victorian Law Reform Commission
Is a Government agency (that means it was created by the
Government but it operates separately from the government)
with a couple of key roles:
1. Make recommendations to Parliament on major areas of law
reform referred to them by the Attorney-General
- So VLRC cannot investigate these areas of major law
reform without first being asked by the Attorney General
(fancy name for State Govt minister for law)
2. Make recommendations to Parliament on minor areas of law
reform
- VLRC can look at these smaller topics whenever they
want, VLRC does not have to wait for a referral
EG. their investigation into the use of medical cannabis
Process of Investigation
- Attorney General refers an issue about a major law reform to the VLRC.
- VLRC does it’s research - it collects info and opinions. (CRITICAL PART - COLLECTS INFO, TALKS TO EXPERTS + PUBLIC, REVIEWS STATS AND SEES HOW THINGS ARE DONE IN OTHER PLACES. TAKES MONTHS TO FINISH)
- VLRC completes it’s research and reports it’s recommendations back to the Attorney General.
- AG shares the report in parliament and the gov decides whether to change the law.
School Leaving Age
At age 17, however if you are below 17 there are 2 paths,
- in most cases you can’t leave school.
- If you leave you need to have finished year 10 and you spend at least 25 hours per week in a combo of education, training and employment.
Circumstances where you can get suspended or expelled
Expulsions and suspensions happen if your behaviour is so serious that the principal thinks other people’s health and safety is at risk. The principal can only expel you if it’s the only option left.
Age where you can get any type of job
You can get a job at the age of 15
Jobs you can get at younger ages
You can work in the entertainment industry or family business.
You can go on errands and garden.
Age when you can leave home
You can leave before you are 18, however your parents are responsible for you until you turn 18.
Laws relating to minors buying, possessing, drinking
alcohol
Drink alcohol?
Can drink if you are under 18 with parental permission.
Be sold alcohol?
18 years of age
Possess alcohol?
18 years of age
