Parliament Basics
What are the two Houses of Parliament?
The House of Representatives and Senate
What year did Australia become a federation?
1901
What voting system does the House of Representatives use?
Preferential voting.
What is the highest court in Australia?
The High Court.
What city is Australia’s capital?
Canberra.
What colour is the House of Representatives?
Green.
What is the Constitution?
Australia’s rulebook for how the country is governed.
How long is a term for the House of Reps?
3 years.
What is judicial review?
The High Court’s power to interpret the Constitution.
Who becomes Prime Minister?
Leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Representatives.
Who represents the King in Australia?
The Governor-General.
Which section outlines federal law-making powers?
Section 51.
True or False: Voting is compulsory in Australia.
True.
What does the High Court do with unconstitutional laws?
Strikes them down.
How many states does Australia have?
Six.
What is Question Time used for?
To allow MPs to question ministers about government actions.
What is the “double majority” in a referendum?
Majority of voters nationwide + in at least 4 of 6 states.
What voting system does the Senate use?
Proportional representation.
Name one type of case the High Court hears.
Constitutional cases, appeals from lower courts, etc.
What is the written record of Parliamentary debates called?
Hansard.
What is responsible government?
The executive must be accountable to Parliament.
What section of the Constitution outlines the referendum process?
Section 128.
What must a candidate receive to win a seat in the House of Reps?
An absolute majority (50% + 1) of votes after preferences.
What case recognised implied voting rights in Australia?
Roach v Electoral Commissioner (2007).
What do we call the division of powers between federal and state governments?
Federalism.