Yr 10 Civics

Rules

Tell us what we can and cannot do

Legal rules

Laws made by governments that everyone in a society must follow.
They are written down, officially enforced, and come with formal consequences if broken.

Purpose of legal rules (4)

• - Safety

• - Conflict resolution

• - Fairness and equality
  - Punish harmful behaviour

Non-legal rules

Instructions about how people should behave.
Not enforced by laws or court, are made by individuals or groups in a community, consequences of breaking them are more social.

Purpose of non-legal rules (4)

• - Addresses more minor offences and everyday instances

• - Legal rules only cover major harmful behaviour
  - Promote respect beyond what the law requires

• - Flexible and culturally specific

Characteristics of effective laws (4)

1. 1. Known to the public (through television, radio, etc)

2. 2. Acceptable to the community and reflect community values
   3. Able to be enforced

3. 4. Able to be changed

Democracy

A system of government in which the people have the power to participate in decision making

Direct democracy

A form of democracy where citizens help make decisions by directly voting on laws and policy proposals

Representative democracy

A form of democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf

Features of democracy (6)

• - Free and fair elections

• - Majority rule with minority rights

• - Rule of law
  - Protection of freedoms
  - Separation of powers
  - Active participation of the citizens

Autocracy

System of government when one person has absolute power

Monarchy

Government led by king or queen, power inherited at birth

Dictatorship

Government controlled by one leader with total power, often maintained by force, violence, fear

Oligarchy

Government where power is held by a small group of people

Theocracy

System where religious leaders rule in the name of a god or a higher power.

Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic decision making (3/3)

Advantages:

• - Fast

• - Clarity (helpful in emergencies as only one person is giving instructions)

• - Consistent

Disadvantages:

• - Lack of creativity

• - No second opinion = less thought-out decisions

• - Builds resentment as citizens’ opinions may not be heard

How is a law made? (5 steps)

1. 1. A problem is identified

2. 2. Representatives discuss it

3. 3. They debate the idea

4. 4. They vote

5. 5. The law is passed

Australia is a…

FPCM
Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Federal state

A state in which power is shared between two or more levels of government, each with dif powers and responsibilities

Unitary state

A state where power is centralised in a single national government

Responsible government

Means that the executive government (Prime Minister and ministers) must be accountable to Parliament, and to the people.

Bicameralism

Having two houses of parliament:

• - House of representatives (Lower House)

• - Senate (Upper House)

Constitution

A document or set of documents that outlines the powers, institutions, and structure of the government, as well as limits of power

What does the constitution do (5)

• - Sets of Australian Federation (separation of power)

• - Outlines how Commonwealth Parliament and high court are structures (Bicameralism)

• - Gives Commonwealth the power to make laws

• - Sets up rules for how people are represented in parliament

• - Includes basic rights for Australians

Referendum

Special vote where all eligible Australian citizens vote yes or no to a proposed change in the Constitution

Compulsory to vote, result is binding

Double majority

• - Majority of voters (50% + 1)

• - Majority of states (At least 4 out of 6)

Political party

An organisation that represents a particular group of people or set of ideas that aims to affect the way a country is governed

Roles of political parties (6)

• - Recruit and support candidates

• - Campaign during elections

• - Represent different groups in society

• - Develop policies

• - Form governments or act as opposition

• - Educate voters about political issues

Party-line voting

When MP’s vote the same way as their party

Crossing the floor

When an MP votes against their party

Political spectrum

A broad approach to characterising and categorising perspectives and interests; a relational tool, it allows comparison between different standpoints.

Major party

Enough votes to form Government or Opposition

Minor party

Not enough votes

Independent

MP that does not belong to a specific party, representing local area (electorate)

Electorate

Geographical area that elects one MP to the House of Representatives

Elections

A formal, organised choice by vote of a person for a political office.

Who can vote?

All Australian citizens aged 18+ enrolled in the AEC (Australian Electoral Comission)

Informal vote

When a vote is not counted because it was filled in incorrectly

Three levels of issues

Local, national and global

Policy

A plan or set of ideas that responds to an issue that is oriented towards a goal or desire made on behalf of the public.