Year 7 Civics and Citizenship, Western Australian curriculum concepts

House of Representatives

The lower house of Parliament, sometimes called the people's house

quota

The number of votes that a Senate candidate must get to win a Senate seat

preferences

The order in which voters list other candidates at an election, after they have made their first choice

Federal Parliament

The House of Representatives and the Senate

separation of powers

The acknowledged division between the executive, legislature (parliament) and judiciary. These separations act as checks and balances on each other to prevent excessive concentration of power in one group.

action plan

The detailed actions to be undertaken in order to achieve an objective

balance of power

The power an individual or party has by holding the casting vote. The vote of the person or party holding the balance of power will swing the decision

governance

The process and rules by which decisions are made and implemented within entities, such as national and state governments, corporations and other organisations

Westminster system

The process of parliamentary government that evolved in England based on a government from the democratically elected lower house; a mainly ceremonial sovereign/head of state; a head of government who commands a majority in the lower house parliament; an executive/cabinet composed of members of parliament; an independent civil service and the rule of law.

justice

The quality of being just. The concept of justice is based upon many differing viewpoints but ultimately states that people and society should behave in a way that is fair, equal and balanced for all.

democratic values

Values that reflect a society's democratic way of life. Respect, equality, fairness and freedom are some examples of Australia's democratic values.

opinion polls

Is an assessment of public opinion by questioning a representative sample, especially as the basis for forecasting the results of voting.

conventions

Unwritten rules of political procedure based on traditional, established practices that are widely accepted. Australia's political system has adopted many of the unwritten conventions of the British Westminster system.

collective wants

Wants that are common to the whole community

anarchy

When no-one is in charge, a state of lawlessness and chaos.

pressure group

When people come together over concern for a common issue in an attempt to influence government decisions

federation

When separate countries or states agree to join together as one.

lobby

To attempt to enlist popular and political support for some particular cause

three levels of government

(1) federal (or national) Parliament, in Canberra; (2) state/territory parliaments, in each state/territory capital city; and (3) local councils (also called shires or municipalities), across the nation.

legislation

1. A law or a set of laws 2.The making of laws.

electorate

1. An area represented by a Member of Parliament; a constituency. 2 The group of people who live in an area represented by a Member of Parliament. 3

mandate

A political doctrine that derives its meaning from political philosophy, political behaviour and political morality, not from constitutions or other laws. It concerns the authorisation to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative or government.

federalism

A principle of government that defines the relationship between the central government at the national level and its constituent units at the regional, state or local levels. In Australia, federalism is the governmental relationship and division of powers between the Australian Government and the states and territories.

bill

A proposal for a law which has been presented to parliament.

liberal democracy

An approach to political arrangements that takes the view that the ideal political system should combine majority rule by the people with the protection of the political, legal and social rights of individuals and minority groups.

portfolio

An area of government responsibility, such as health or defence

independent representative

An individual member of parliament (also known as an independent), who does not belong to any political party.

political party

An organisation that represents a group of people with similar political philosophies or ideas. The aim of a political party is to get its members elected to Parliament so that it can hold political power and their ideas can influence the way Australia is governed.

absolute majority

At least half the number of formal votes received (= 50%) in an election plus one (+ 1)

representation

Geographical information given in a visual form, for example, a graph, map, image, field sketch or a multilayered map.

rights and responsibilities

In Civics and Citizenship refers to the entitlements and obligations that are associated with citizenship. Rights and responsibilities are a cornerstone of modern democracies. While there are many rights a citizen may enjoy (freedom of speech, the right to vote) there are also responsibilities of citizenship (to vote in elections, pay taxes, perform jury service).

multi-faith

Refers to a society characterised by support for or free activity of religions, within the bounds of the law.

active citizenship

Refers to involvement and informed participation in the civic and political activities of society at local, state, national, regional and global levels. It contrasts with 'passive citizenship' where citizens participate only minimally to meet their basic individual responsibilities including voting and paying taxes.

Australian Government

Refers to the federal or national government of Australia. Previously known as the Commonwealth Government, it was established by the Australian Constitution at the time of Federation.

multicultural

Refers to the preservation of different cultures or cultural identities within a unified society, such as a state or nation.

secular

Relating to the worldly rather than religion; things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred. For example, a secular society is one governed by people's laws through parliament rather than by religious laws.

Governor-General

The representative of the monarch in the Australian jurisdiction according to the Australian Constitution and so is head of state. Although the constitution grants the governor-general a wide range of powers, in practice the conventions of the Westminster system are followed so the governor-general acts, with rare exceptions, only on the advice of the prime minister and government.

suffrage

The right to vote.

human rights

The rights that come from being human. That is, the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty; freedom of thought and expression; and equality before the law.

proportional representation

The system used in Australia to elect senators. Each senator must win a set proportion of votes, or quota, to win a Senate seat

Senate

The upper house of the Federal Parliament.

participation

The way in which individuals as good citizens take part in and make a contribution to society.

electors

Those who have the right to participate in an election and chose to do so.

statute

Written law (initially in the form of a Bill) that has been passed through all stages by Parliament, has received the monarch's (or monarch's representative such as Governor-General or Governor) assent and has been proclaimed

citizen

A person who holds citizenship of an entity, such as a country, and who is a member of a political community which grants certain rights and privileges to its citizens, and in return expects them to act responsibly such as to obey their country's laws.

ballot paper

A piece of paper on which a voter records

Government

A body of people who have the authority to control or govern a community, state or country.

constitutional monarchy

A form of government in which a country has a monarch as the head of state, and has a constitution that sets down the rules by which it will be governed.

monarchy

A form of government in which the supreme authority is actually or nominally ruled by monarch, such as a king or a queen. The monarch usually holds the power by birth right and not merit. Australia is a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch's power is limited by a constitution.

direct democracy

A form of government where citizens can directly participate in law making by means of a binding referendum.

oligarchy

A form of government whereby a group of people rule together.

Act of Parliament

A law made by parliament; a Bill which has passed all three readings in each house and has received the royal assent.

citizenship

A legal status granted by birth or naturalisation to citizens involving certain rights (e.g. protection; passport; voting) and responsibilities (e.g. obey the law; voting; defend country). A modern sense incorporates three components: civil (rights and responsibilities); political (participation and representation); and social (social virtues and community involvement).

voting

A means of formally expressing opinion or choice on an issue or electing a representative. The term is frequently understood in relation to government as a formal expression of preference for a candidate for office or for a proposed resolution of an issue within a parliament.

compulsory voting

A system in which electors are required by law to vote in both state and federal elections, by either attending a polling place on Election Day or voting by mail. If an eligible voter does not vote, they may be subject to fines or community service. It is compulsory for Australian citizens 18 years and over to enrol to vote.

democracy

A system of government based on the people of an entity, that is, 'government by the people'; a form of government where the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected representatives under a free and fair electoral system.

absolute monarchy

A system of government in which a monarch (a king, queen or emperor) holds total power, and can make laws without having to consult a parliament or the people.

representative democracy

A system of government in which electors choose representatives to a parliament to make laws on their behalf.

Parliament

A system of government in which power is in the hands of the people, who exercise that power through elected representatives in parliament. This is based on the idea that parliament has supreme or sovereign power.

preferential voting

A system of voting to rank candidates in order of preference. It is necessary for the winning candidate to achieve an absolute majority (50 per cent of the total vote plus one). If no candidate achieves an absolute majority, the candidate with the fewest number of first preferences is excluded from the count, and his or her votes are distributed among the remaining candidates according to second preferences. This process is continued until one candidate achieves an absolute majority. It is the dominant form of voting in Australian politics (as compared with simple majority systems of voting).

referendum:

A vote by all voters on a question; in Australia, nearly always a public vote on a proposed law to alter the Constitution.

formal vote

A vote that has been correctly marked on a ballot paper in accordance with the rules and not signed or made unreadable in any way

Australia's democracy

Is a system of government grounded in liberal democratic values and a belief in civic engagement. It includes a written constitution, a well-established representative parliamentary process based on the Westminster system and a constitutional monarch.

secret ballot

Is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. On Election Day in Australia voters are provided with a private polling booth to complete their ballot paper to ensure the secrecy of their vote.

bicameral

The Australian Parliament is bicameral, which means there are two houses. The Senate; is which is also known as the upper house; and the House of Representatives, which is also known as the lower house.

constitution

The fundamental principles on which a state or other organisation (such as a club) is governed. Usually this takes the form of a legal document setting out specific powers for the government or governing of that entity.

cabinet

The group of select government ministers that meets regularly to decide major issues of government. Cabinet proceedings are highly confidential.

civics

The identifiable body of knowledge, skills and understandings relating to the organisation and working of society. It refers to a nation's political and social heritage, democratic processes, government, public administration and legal system.