Parliament and Government
What are the two houses of Parliament called?
House of Representatives and the Senate.
What is a bill?
A written proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law.
What is Australia’s most powerful court?
The High Court of Australia.
Name one major political party in Australia.
Australian Labor Party (ALP) or Liberal Party.
Who was Eddie Mabo, and where was he from?
A Torres Strait Islander man from Mer (Murray Island).
What is the term for when no party has a majority in the House of Representatives?
A hung parliament.
Who must sign a bill before it becomes law?
The Governor-General, giving Royal Assent.
Which court deals with minor criminal offences like speeding?
The Magistrates’ Court.
Which two parties form the Coalition?
Liberal Party and Nationals.
What does “terra nullius” mean?
Land belonging to no one.
How is the Prime Minister selected?
The leader of the political party with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
Put these bill-making steps in order: Debate in Senate, Royal Assent, Debate in House of Reps.
Debate in House of Representatives → Debate in Senate → Royal Assent.
What does “jurisdiction” mean?
The power or authority of a court to hear and decide a case.
What is a crossbench MP or Senator?
A member of Parliament who is not part of the government or opposition, often independents or minor parties.
In what year did the High Court make its ruling in the Mabo Case?
1992
What is the role of the Senate compared to the House of Representatives?
The Senate reviews, debates, and votes on laws passed by the House of Representatives.
What is “precedent” in law-making?
When a decision made in a court sets an example that future cases must follow.
Name three elements of a fair trial.
Impartial judge, presumption of innocence, right to a lawyer, both sides heard, open justice, evidence-based decision (any three).
How can minor parties and independents influence laws?
By holding the balance of power in the Senate, negotiating, or voting with/against government bills.
How did the Mabo Case change Australian law?
The High Court overturned terra nullius and recognised Indigenous land rights, leading to the Native Title Act 1993.
Explain how the separation of powers prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful. You must state all three branches in your answer.
Power is divided between legislative, executive, and judicial branches; each has its own role and can check the others.
Compare how laws are made in Parliament and in the courts.
Parliament makes laws through the bill process; courts make laws through precedent in decisions.
Why is an independent judiciary important in a democracy?
It ensures judges are not influenced by politics and laws are applied fairly, protecting rights and freedoms.
Evaluate one strength and one weakness of having many minor parties in Parliament.
Strength: More diverse views represented. Weakness: Can make law-making slower and less stable.
Explain how both the courts and Parliament played a role in the outcome of the Mabo Case.
Courts ruled in favour of Mabo (set precedent overturning terra nullius); Parliament passed the Native Title Act 1993 to put this into legislation.