Year 8 Civics and Citizenship Revision

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms and concepts of the Year 8 Australian Civics and Citizenship curriculum, including political systems, parliamentary structure, voting, and types of law.

Democracy

A system of government where the political power is vested in the people, originating from the Greek word dēmokratia, meaning "rule of the people."

Representative Democracy

A political system where citizens vote for representatives or candidates to become members of parliament.

House of Representatives

The Lower House of the Commonwealth Parliament which consists of 151 members and is where laws are made and the federal budget is passed.

The Senate

The Upper House of the Commonwealth Parliament consisting of 76 members where laws passed by the House of Representatives are reviewed.

Direct Action

Also known as "non-violent resistance," this is when people work together to raise awareness or influence decision making through protests, boycotts, or strikes.

Political Party

A group of people who share similar ideas about how their country should be run, are registered with the electoral commission, and select candidates to represent the party.

Independents

People who are not members of a political party and run for election on their own, deciding how to vote on each issue without following party rules.

Secret Ballot

A method of voting where no one has the right to know who someone else voted for.

Electorate

An area represented by one elected member of Parliament; there are 151 electorates in Australia for each of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives.

Statute Law

Laws that are created and passed by Parliaments at the State or Federal level.

Common Law

Law created by judges when they make decisions in court cases, which may become a precedent that lower courts must follow in similar future cases.

High Court of Australia

The highest court in the Australian hierarchy that hears final appeals and interprets the Australian Constitution.

Civil Law

Law that deals with disputes between people or organisations where actions have caused loss or harm, often aiming to restore justice through compensation.

Criminal Law

Law that deals with acts seen as dangerous to society, aiming to restore justice by punishing the guilty to prevent and deter repeat offences.

Customary Law

Rules and customs developed over many First Nations generations where Elders address disputes by giving advice, providing resolutions, or punishing the law breaker.