Lecture Notes on Government and Standard of Living

Flashcards generated from lecture notes to help review key concepts about government, its levels, the national budget, standard of living, and their impact on society and the environment.

What is a government?

A group of people who set policies and make laws to control how a country operates; elected to administer the state, maintain order, deliver services, and provide infrastructure.

What is a democracy?

A system of government where all the people in the country vote for who they want in Parliament.

What is the state?

An organised community run by the government.

What are the three levels of government?

National government, Provincial government, and Local government.

What are the three branches of the National Assembly?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

What does the Legislative branch do?

Makes the laws and consists of Parliament.

What does the Executive branch do?

Leads the country and consists of the President, Deputy President, and ministers (cabinet).

What does the Judicial branch do?

Ensures that justice is served and consists of the Constitutional Court, High Court, and Magistrates Court.

What are the two houses of Parliament?

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

Who leads each of the nine provinces?

The Premier.

What is the role of local governments?

Provide democratic and accountable government for local communities, ensure that services are provided, and promote social and economic development.

What is the National Budget?

It sets out how much money a government has made and how much it has spent.

What does the Treasury manage?

The government's finances.

List the forms of government revenue?

Business tax, interest on investments, charges, direct tax, debt, PAYE, and sale of assets.

List examples of direct taxes?

Income tax, Property tax, Business Tax, and PAYE.

List examples of indirect taxes?

VAT, sin tax (tax on alcohol and tobacco), customs duty, import tax, municipal tax, fuel tax, and transport tax.

What services does the National Government spend money on?

SAPS, law, universities, and courts.

What services do Provinces spend money on?

Schools, hospitals, and social services.

What services do local municipalities spend money on?

Water, housing, and waste removal.

What is the definition of taxes?

The amounts of money that people pay for public goods and services.

What is the definition of charges?

The prices of goods and services.

What is the definition of debt?

The cost of borrowing money.

What is standard of living?

People's access to things such as goods and services to make their lives more comfortable.

Name some factors that influence the standard of living?

Lifestyles, self-sufficient societies, modern v rural societies, impact of development on the environment, unemployment, and productive use of resources to promote a healthy environment.

What is lifestyle?

The way you live in your environment, including how you spend your money, how you worship, your use of goods and services, and how you express your culture.

What is self-sufficient society?

Societies that can meet most of their needs themselves through their environment; often rely on religion/culture, like traditional healers.

What are rural societies?

Societies in areas where there are few people, with main economic activities in the primary sector. Use less technology than modern societies and earn less income.

What are the impacts of development on the environment?

Habitats are destroyed, factories pollute the environment, population increase puts strain on the environment, biodiversity decreases, and planting of crops can damage the soil.