Parliament and Congress: A Comparison of Political Systems

Practice flashcards comparing the structures, election processes, and executive functions of the Australian and United States federal political systems.

Federated Nations

Nations where the power to govern is shared between national and state governments.

Bicameral

A system of government consisting of two chambers, specifically an elected House of Representatives and a Senate.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system of government, such as Australia's, where the Queen is the head of state.

Republic

A system of government, such as the United States, where the President is the head of state.

Australian Constitution

The set of rules for running Australia that took effect on 1 January $1901$, detailing the composition of Parliament and the roles of the executive government and High Court.

US Constitution

The oldest written constitution still in use, taking effect on 21 June $1788$ as the framework for the organisation of the US federal government.

Bill of Rights

The collective name for the first $10$ amendments to the US Constitution, incorporated in $1791$ to protect the rights of individuals.

Separation of Powers

The principle where the power to make and manage federal law is divided between the legislature, executive, and judiciary to avoid the misuse of power.

Legislature

The branch of governance responsible for law-making, known in the US as Congress and in Australia as the federal Parliament.

Executive

The branch of governance, consisting of high-ranking decision-makers, that administers and manages federal laws.

Judiciary

The branch of governance, headed by the Supreme Court in the US and the High Court in Australia, that interprets and applies the law.

Double Majority

The requirement for amending the Australian Constitution, necessitating a majority of voters nationwide and a majority of voters in a majority of states.

Preferential Voting

The system used in Australian elections for the House of Representatives to elect one member for each electorate.

Proportional Voting

The system used in Australian Senate elections to fill multiple vacancies in each state and territory.

Simple Majority

The 'first past the post' voting system used for both houses of the US Congress.

Governor-General

The Queen’s representative in Australia, appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, who exercises executive power and provides Royal Assent to bills.

Electoral College

A group of $538$ members in the US who formally elect the President; a candidate must receive at least $270$ votes to win.

Impeachment

The process by which the US House of Representatives charges a President with a serious crime; removal requires conviction by a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

Royal Assent

The final step in the Australian legislative process where a bill passed by Parliament is signed into law by the Governor-General.

Veto

The President’s refusal to sign a bill into law, which can only be overridden by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress.

Whips

Party managers who organize the hour-by-hour operations of debating and voting in each house of the legislature.

Crossing the Floor

The act of a member of parliament voting against their own party; specifically discouraged by formal rules in the Australian Labor Party.

Balance of Power

The enhanced status of Independents or minor parties when they have the ability to affect a majority vote if major party numbers are even.