HASS Civics & Citizenship Vocabulary (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Civics & Citizenship notes based on the video content.

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people and exercised directly by them or through elected representatives.

Disinformation

False information deliberately spread to mislead people.

Misinformation

Getting the facts wrong.

Representative Democracy

A political system based on citizens voting to elect representatives.

Elections

The process by which the people can choose their representatives and members of parliament.

Candidates

Members of political parties nominated to run for office in an election.

Parliament

An organisation that makes laws, often with a lower house to draft laws and an upper house to review proposed laws.

Members of Parliament

Individuals elected by the people to represent their views and values in parliament.

Political Party

A group of people with similar views about how a country should be governed.

Coalition

Two or more political parties that join to win an election and form government.

Absolute Majority

Winning over half the votes to be declared the winner or to form government.

Opposition

The second-largest political party or coalition after the government, that scrutinises and opposes government policies.

Independent

A member of parliament not associated with any political party.

Westminster Parliamentary System

The British parliamentary system that Australia models its system on.

Ideologies

Sets of ideas or beliefs about politics, economics or society.

Hung Parliament

A parliament in which no party has an overall majority in the House of Representatives.

Minority Parliament

A government formed by a party or coalition without a majority, but able to govern with support of the majority of members.

Preferential System of Voting

A voting system that provides multiple counts of ballots to determine who has an absolute majority of votes.

Formal Vote

A valid ballot paper correctly completed and counted in the final tally.

Informal Vote

An invalid ballot paper not completed according to instructions and not counted.

Proportional Voting

A system that allocates seats in proportion to votes cast for candidates.

Quota

The number of votes a candidate must receive in a Senate election before being elected.

Constituents

People living in an area that has elected someone to represent them.

Direct Action

Public protest to raise awareness about issues (non-violent resistance).

Lobbying

Making requests to politicians or public groups to influence the government.

Rule Of Law

The idea that everyone is equal before the law, regardless of power or status.

Crime

An act that breaks the law, harms individuals or society, and is punishable by law.

Jury

A group of people who decide guilty or not guilty verdicts in a case.

Adversarial System

A trial where the prosecution and defence compete to seek the truth.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

The standard of proof in a criminal trial; no reasonable doubt must exist for guilt.

Burden Of Proof

The responsibility for proving the case.

Civil Law

An area of law defining rights and responsibilities and regulating private disputes; can involve compensation.

Common Law

Law created by courts when judges make rulings; a precedent for future cases.

Precedent

A previous case or example used as a guide for decision-making.

Codification

Parliament creates a statute based on a precedent set by a judge.

Australian Constitution

A written set of rules and principles guiding how Australia is governed.

Statute Law

Law made by parliament.

Federal

Relating to the central government of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Bill

A proposed law that has not yet been passed by both houses of parliament.

Royal Assent

Approval by the governor-general for a bill to become law.

Indictable Offences

Serious criminal offences usually heard by a judge and jury.

Simple Offences

Less serious offences usually heard by a magistrate.

Criminal Law

Law dealing with offences that harm others or society.

Customary Law

Rules and traditions upheld by First Nations peoples.

Damages

Money ordered by a court to compensate the harmed party.

Balance Of Probabilities

The civil standard of proof; more likely than not that facts are true.

Negligence

Failing to exercise reasonable care, causing harm or injury.

Dreaming

A belief system central to some Aboriginal cultures that gives meaning to creation, spirituality, family, land, waters and law.

Elders

Key people who keep cultural and spiritual knowledge in First Nations communities.

Delegated Legislation

Rules made by authorities given power through an Act of Parliament.

Act Of Parliament

A law made by parliament.

Abrogation

Cancellation of a court-made law by passing an Act of Parliament.

Judgment

The court's decision in a particular case.