Civics

System of Government

The structure by which a country is run, such as democracy, communism, etc.

Representative Democracy

A system where citizens choose candidates to represent them in a parliament.

Australian Government Structure

Australia has a mixed system; it is a representative democracy and a constitutional monarchy.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system where the monarch's power is limited by the constitution.

Federation

A union of states forming a single country, such as Australia after 1901.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exerting too much power.

Bicameralism

A legislature consisting of two houses, as in the Australian Parliament.

Governor-General

The representative of the monarch in Australia, appointed by the King.

Prime Minister

The head of government in Australia, elected by the party with a majority in the House of Representatives.

Leader of the Opposition

The head of the largest party not in government, responsible for scrutinizing the government.

Major Parties

Political parties that have significant electoral support, such as the Liberal Party and the Labor Party.

Minor Parties

Political parties that have less electoral support and typically struggle to win seats.

Coalition

An alliance of political parties that work together to achieve common goals.

Electorate

A geographical area represented by an elected member of parliament.

Political Party

An organization that represents a set of ideas and seeks to gain power through elections.

Electoral Roll

A list of names and addresses of all eligible citizens registered to vote.

Two-Party System

A political system dominated by two major parties.

Constitution

The fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.

Voting System

The method used to count votes and determine election outcomes, such as preferential voting.

Political Spectrum

A system to classify political positions of individuals or groups.

Legislation

Laws enacted or proposed by a legislative body, such as the Australian Parliament, that establish rules, policies, or amend existing laws.

Judiciary

Laws enacted or proposed by a legislative body, such as the Australian Parliament, that establish rules, policies, or amend existing laws.

Executive

The branch of government responsible for implementing and administering the laws made by the legislature.

Number of seats in Senate and House of Representatives

House of Representatives: There are 151 seats

Senate: There are 76 seats in the Senate, with 12 senators elected from each of the six states and 2 senators elected from each of the two mainland territories