Political Orientation and Social Contract in Australia

Liberalism

A political ideology that values individual rights, freedoms and protection with minimal government intervention

Democracy

a system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives.

The political spectrum

A way to show different political views from left to right (is economic), as well as up and down which is authoritarian and libertarian (more social based)

Left-wing in political spectrum?

Wants more help for people (like free health care, education), and more government control of the economy.

Right-wing in political spectrum

Wants less government, lower taxes, and people to take care of themselves. Focuses on tradition and security.

The y-axis in the political spectrum

Authoritarian and Libertarian, more social based

authoritarian on political spectrum

The belief a government where one leader or a small group has a lot of power, people have fewer personal freedoms, and everyone is expected to follow the rules set by those in charge

libertarian

Believing that people should have as much personal freedom as possible, with very little government control over their lives and choices

Separation of Powers

This idea splits government into three parts so no one gets too much power.

Legislative branch

Makes and changes laws.

The executive branch

Puts laws into action.

The Judiciary Branch

Interpret the laws and settles disputes based on it.

Arms of Government

Executive

legislative

judiciary

Social Contract

An agreement between two sides, so that everyone benefits

Rights and Duties in Australia

The balance of responsibilities and entitlements between the people and the government

Federation

The process by which Australia united as a federation of states in 1901, establishing a federal government while maintaining the individual governments of each state.

Why Australia Federated

Free trade - No taxes between states, Defence - One strong army, Immigration - Same rules across Australia, Pride - Wanted to be one united country.

Referendum

A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal and can result in the adoption of a new law or amendment to the Constitution.

Australia's Constitution

The rulebook for how Australia is run.

The Federal Model

It established Australia's system of governance, dividing powers between the national and state governments. It aimed to create a balanced approach to political representation and regional autonomy.

Roles of the local government

Providing things like waste management, infrastructure maintenance, public spaces, and community services.

Federal Parliament

Consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, responsible for making and passing federal laws.

Popular Sovereignty

the principle that the legitimacy of the government is created by the consent of the governed.

House of Representatives

The lower house of the Parliament of Australia, responsible for proposing and debating legislation. Members are elected to represent constituencies across the country every 3 years.

Senate

The upper house of the Parliament of Australia, responsible for reviewing legislation passed by the House of Representatives and representing the states.

General Will

The collective interest of the people in a society, which reflects their common good and is the basis for legitimate political authority.

The system of voting each level of government uses

House of Representatives uses preferential voting, and the Senate uses proportional representation.

Importance of Elections

They provide citizens with the opportunity to choose their representatives, express their political opinions, and influence government policies and direction.

Majoritarian system

Is used in the House of representatives. Absolute majority is required to win (>50%). People vote based on who they want from most to least, 1 being the most. If noone gets majority, then the second preferences are counted until a candidate achieves an absolute majority.

Proportional systems

Is used in the senate. There are 12 members for each state, and 2 for each territory. To have a seat, you must have >1/6 of all votes. This is because each state elects 6 new senators every 3 years. Proportional systems reflect the percentage of votes received by parties, allowing for a fair representation in the senate.

The amount of members in the house of representatives

151

An electorate

A geographical area represented by a member of parliament in a legislative assembly. Voters in an electorate elect their representative to advocate for their interests and participate in the government's decision-making process.

The roles of the houses in parliament

They work together to create, amend, and pass legislation. The House of Representatives represents the population, while the Senate provides equal representation for the states.

The role of state government

Things that federal government doesn’t cover. Education, health, transportation, and public safety.

The roles of the federal government

Defense, immigration, and foreign affairs.