Civics and Citizenship

Democracy Def

A system of government in which people have the power to determine how they will be ruled or managed.

Parliment

Is a group of representatives who have been elected by the people to make laws on their behalf.

System

•A Representative Democracy

•A Constitutional Monarchy

Representative Democracy

a system of government where candidates are elected by the people to represent their poltical views and standpoints

A constitutional monarchy

A political system in which the Crown acts as the head of state but their powers are limited by a constitution.

division of powers

federal/commonwealth gov, state gov, local gov

Commonwealth responsibility

-currency

-defense

-marriage

-border protection

-australian citizenship

State responsibility

-education

-health services

-utilities

-public transport

local responsibility

-local infrastructure

-recreational facilities

-aged-care facilities

-childcare facilities

liberal democracy

a system that aims to protect individuals rights, freedoms and places limits on the level of government control and interferance

State responsibility

-education

-health services

-utilities

-public transport

Other words also used for australia’s system of government

-liberal democracy

-federation

-representative democracy

-constitutional monarchy

-westminister system

Representative government elections are…

parliaments that make laws that reflect the views,values and moral standards of the people

The australian constitution consists of…

The legislature which consists of house of representatives and the senate. The executive which consists of the governor general, the prime minister and government departments. The judiciary which consists of the high court and other federal courts.

Legislature

power to make the law

executive

power to administer the law

judiciary

power to apply the law

Seperation of powers

australia divides government responsibility among three of powers, separate branches the prevents the abuse of power.

constitutionalism

the highest law is written in the australian constitution, it protects certain rights and can only be changed by a referendum

Personal liberty

personal liberties are the rights and freedoms every individual has in a democracy. These are protected through constitution, laws and court decisions.

What freedoms does every individual have in australia?

-freedom of speech

-freedom of association

-freedom of assembly

-freedom of movement

-freedom of religion

freedom of speech

the freedom to speak on any political matters

freedom of association

the freedom to join any political interest groups

freedom of assembly

the freedom to protest peacefully

freedom of movement

-the freedom to go anywhere in australia

freedom of religion

the freedom to follow a religion or none

rule of law

everyone including the gov, must obey the law. No one is above the law, and all individuals are treated equally before it.

electorates

members elected by voters who live in 150 designated areas throughout australia called electorates.

the house of representatives voting

the majority has to be winning by atleast 76 of the 150 electorates

elections

allow people to have a say in how they will be governed

voting

compulsory for all australian citizens who are 18 and over. Permanent residents and temporary visa holders are not eligible to vote.

enfranchisement

the right to vote

first past the post voting system

the voters cast a single vote for the candidate of their choice, the candidate who recieves the most votes wins.

preferential voting system

use this voting in house of representatives. votes number their candidate in order of preference. If no candidate reaches an absolute majority of above 50% of their first preference votes, the candidate with the lowest votes is eliminated. The process continues until absolute majority is reached.

Proportional voting system

is used in senate and upper house. Candidates are elected in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

media bias influence on voting

different media outlets present issues and events to suit their own political leanings

threats to australia’s democracy

-media bias influence

-influence of individuals and groups with vested interests

-organised crime

-corruption

-lawlessness

influence of individuals and groups with vested interests

small groups of often wealthy individuals and large corporations have been able to influence government policy to benefit their interests. This is achieved through large donations to political parties.

organised crime

refers to criminal communities that engae in illegal activities for monetary profit. They make money out of trafficking of illegal drugs and weapons, money laundering, match fixing in sport and cybercrime.

corruption

an illegal activity in which someone makes a decision for personal gain in contradiction to the role they occupy. Bribery, fraud and repression of political opponents

lawlessness

the organisation of large gatherings and gangs that have led to street violence, vandalism and other minor crimes.