Australian Constitution and Parliament - Video Notes (Vocabulary Flashcards)

A vocabulary set of flashcards covering key terms related to the Australian Constitution, Parliament, elections, referendums, and related roles and processes.

Member of Parliament (MP)

A member who represents an electorate in the House of Representatives (Lower House).

Electorate

A specific geographical region that a member of parliament represents.

Parliament

The group of people responsible for making laws in government.

House of Representatives

The lower house; government is formed from the winning party/coalition.

Senate

The upper house; represents the states; acts as the House of Review; 76 senators.

Bicameral Parliament

A Parliament that consists of two houses.

Coalition

A partnership between two or more political parties to form a government.

Government

The group with the authority to govern a country or state; formed from the party or coalition with the majority of seats in the lower house.

Preselection

The selection of a candidate within the party to represent the party during a campaign.

Preferential voting

A system where voters rank their preferred candidate from most to least.

Compulsory voting

Voting is compulsory; if you do not vote, you must pay a fine.

Informal vote

A ballot that is incomplete, completed incorrectly, or not anonymous.

Donkey vote

A ballot numbered in the same order as candidates appear on the ballot paper.

Majority Government

Government formed by a party or coalition with a majority of seats in the lower house.

Minority Government

A government formed when no party has an outright majority; relies on cross-bench or independents.

Hung Parliament

Neither party has a majority of seats in the lower house.

Cross-bench

Independents and minor parties whose support can determine the government.

Referendum

A national vote to change the Constitution; requires double majority.

Double Majority

A national majority of voters and a majority of voters in a majority of states.

Majority of 4 states

The requirement that a majority of states (at least four) approve in a referendum.

Bill

A proposed law that has not yet been passed or given Royal assent.

Legislation / Act of Parliament

A law that has been passed by both houses and granted Royal assent.

Royal assent

The Governor-General’s signature that makes a bill into law.

Governor-General

The King’s representative in Australia; appointed on the PM’s advice; involved in passing legislation.

King

The monarch; constitutional head of state.

Cabinet

A group of top-level government ministers responsible for policy; part of the executive.

Minister

A member of the government with responsibility for a government portfolio.

Plebiscite

A national vote on a question that does not affect the Constitution; not legally binding.

Common law

Rights protected by courts, not written into statute.

Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (The Charter)

Victoria’s statutory bill of rights containing 20 rights reflecting Freedom, Respect, Equality, and Dignity.

The High Court

The final court of appeal; interprets the Constitution and resolves disputes between Commonwealth and states.

The Constitution

A set of rules for running the country; divided into eight chapters and 128 sections.

Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)

The body that runs elections and publishes information about referendum yes/no.

Ballot Paper

The sheet on which voters record their preferred candidates, often ranking them.

Executive

The branch of government that runs the country; includes the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Legislature

The law-making branch of government; Parliament.