Flashcards: Understanding Australia's Democratic and Global Role — 24 cards

Australian democracy — definition?

Citizens vote to choose leaders and laws.

Leaders accountable — principle?

Elected officials must answer to citizens.

Rule of law — meaning?

Laws apply equally to everyone.

Parliamentary democracy — structure?

Government derives legitimacy from elected parliament.

Representative democracy — system?

Citizens elect representatives to make laws.

Bicameral Parliament — composition?

Two chambers: House of Representatives and Senate.

House of Representatives — role?

Represents the population and forms government.

Senate — role?

Represents the states and reviews laws.

Law-making process — first step?

Issue identified by stakeholders or parliament.

Bill introduction — step?

Formal proposal of a new law in parliament.

Debate — purpose?

Members scrutinize and discuss the bill.

Vote — outcome?

Members approve or reject the bill.

Royal Assent — final step?

Governor-General approves the bill into law.

Australian political parties — examples?

Labor, Liberal, Greens.

Multi-party system — meaning?

Multiple parties compete for power.

Key political leaders — example?

Prime Minister and Governor-General.

Prime Minister — role?

Leads the government and makes policies.

Governor-General — role?

Represents the monarch; grants Royal Assent.

The Constitution — purpose?

Defines governance structure and powers.

Referendum — purpose?

Votes to change the Constitution.

Double majority — requirement?

Majority nationwide and in most states.

UN Security Council — role?

Maintains international peace and security.

Veto power — holders?

US, UK, France, Russia, China.

Veto limitations — issue?

Can hinder UN action in crises.