1What is the main purpose of laws in society?
To protect people and property, regulate behaviour, provide order, and resolve disputes.
2How are laws different from rules?
Laws are enforceable by police and courts and carry serious penalties, while rules are not.
3What are the main roles of law?
Establish boundaries, protect individuals, provide freedoms, and resolve disputes.
4What are values, morals and ethics in relation to law?
They are the beliefs and standards of society that influence how laws are made and applied.
5What are the three levels of government in Australia?
Federal, State/Territory, and Local.
6What are exclusive powers?
Powers only the federal parliament can exercise, e.g. defence, currency, external affairs.
7What are residual powers?
Powers only state parliaments can exercise, e.g. police, housing, state roads.
8What are concurrent powers?
Powers shared by both federal and state parliaments, e.g. health.
9What is the role of the Federal Government?
Handles defence, foreign affairs, immigration, currency, taxation, pensions, and trade.
10What is the role of State Governments?
Responsible for education, health (hospitals), transport, police, housing, and emergency services.
11What is the role of Local Governments?
Manage local issues such as rubbish collection, libraries, parks, pet registration, and town planning.
12What is the High Court’s role?
It is the highest court in Australia, hears appeals, and interprets the Constitution.
13What is the difference between criminal and civil law?
Criminal law deals with offences against the state, civil law deals with disputes between individuals.
14What is common law?
Law made by judges through precedent when no statute exists.
15What is statute law?
Law made by parliament through Acts or amendments.
16What is customary law?
Traditional laws of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, enforced by elders and based on kinship.
17What was the significance of the Mabo case (1992)?
It overturned terra nullius and recognised native title for Indigenous Australians.
18What is the separation of powers?
The division of government into Legislature (makes laws), Executive (enforces laws), and Judiciary (interprets laws).
19Why do we have separation of powers?
To prevent abuse of power, ensure checks and balances, and protect individual rights.
20What is representative democracy?
A system where citizens elect members of parliament to represent their views and make laws on their behalf.
21What are the rights of Australian citizens in the democratic process?
Right to vote, join a political party, stand for election, join lobby groups, and strike.
22What are the responsibilities of Australian citizens in the democratic process?
Enrol and vote, keep enrolment updated, pay taxes, obey laws, and serve on juries if called.
23What is preferential voting?
A system where voters rank candidates in order of preference until one achieves an absolute majority.
24What is proportional representation?
A voting system used in the Senate where candidates must achieve a quota of votes to be elected.
25What is a parliamentary majority?
When one party wins more than half the seats in the House of Representatives and forms government.
26What is a hung parliament?
When no party wins a majority of seats, requiring support from independents or minor parties to form government.
27What is a minority government?
When the governing party has fewer seats than the opposition but governs with crossbench support.
28What is the role of political parties?
Groups of people with shared views who aim to get candidates elected and influence government decisions.
29What is the role of the Prime Minister and Cabinet?
They set government policy, make executive decisions, and direct national priorities.