Year 8 Civics Revision

These flashcards provide definitions for key terms related to Australian Civics, including the Constitution, the legal system, and the differences between civil and criminal law.

Constitution

A legal document that states the rules and laws of how a state or country should be governed

Separation of Powers

The three branches of government —the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial—to ensure that no single group has total control.

Executive

The branch of the Separation of Powers responsible for putting the law into action.

Legislative

The branch of the Separation of Powers responsible for making and changing laws.

Judicial

The branch of the Separation of Powers responsible for interpreting and applying the law.

Referendum

The process for changing the Constitution

Double Majority

A requirement for a referendum to be successful, a majority of 'yes' votes is needed in at least $4$ out of $6$ states across Australia.

Royal Assent

The formal signing of a Bill by the Governor General, acting as the monarch's representative

Rule of Law

A principle that the law applies to everyone equally and no one is above the law.

Right to a fair trial

The principle that individuals are entitled to a trial that is conducted impartially and is unbiased.

Right to legal representation

The principle that people should have access to a lawyer to provide assistance and advice during legal proceedings.

Presumption of Innocence

The legal principle that a person is considered innocent until they are proven guilty.

Burden of Proof

The obligation to prove the allegations in a case, which lies on the prosecution

Common Law

Law that is developed by judges through decisions in court cases

Precedent

A legal principle established in a previous court case that is used as a rule or guide for future cases

Statute Law

Law made by parliament, which begins as a Bill and must pass through both the Upper and Lower Houses.

Bill

A proposed law that is presented to parliament for discussion and approval.

Upper and Lower Houses

The two chambers of parliament - the Senate and the House of Representatives

Governor General

The representative of the Monarch in Australia, who provides royal assent to convert Bills into statutory law

Civil Law

The area of law that deals with disputes between individuals or organizations

Damages

A sum of money paid in a civil law case for injury or loss caused by another party.

Balance of Probabilities

The court must decide which version of events is more likely to be true.

Criminal Law

The area of law that deals with behaviors that are deemed to be crimes

Indictable Offence

A serious criminal offence that involves a trial by a judge and a jury.

Simple (Summary) Offence

A less serious criminal offence that are often heard in a lower court without jury

Jury

A group of citizens in a criminal trial who listen to the evidence and decide the verdict of guilty or not guilty.

Judge

The presiding officer in a court of law who ensures the trial is fair, interprets the law, and determines the sentence in a criminal trial.