Citizenship Government and the Law — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of system of government does Australia have?
- An absolute monarchy
- A military dictatorship
- A parliamentary democracy (Correct answer)
- A one-party state
Correct answer: A parliamentary democracy
Australia is a parliamentary democracy. Elected representatives sit in parliament and make laws on behalf of the people.
Question 2: Who is Australia's head of state, represented by the Governor-General?
- The Prime Minister
- The British monarch (the King or Queen) (Correct answer)
- The Chief Justice
- The President
Correct answer: The British monarch (the King or Queen)
Australia's head of state is the reigning British monarch, who is represented in Australia by the Governor-General.
Question 3: Who leads the Australian Government?
- The Prime Minister (Correct answer)
- The Governor-General
- The Lord Mayor
- The Chief of the Army
Correct answer: The Prime Minister
The Prime Minister leads the Australian Government. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party (or coalition) with the most support in the House of Representatives.
Question 4: The Australian Parliament is made up of how many houses?
- One house
- Three houses
- Two houses — the House of Representatives and the Senate (Correct answer)
- Four houses
Correct answer: Two houses — the House of Representatives and the Senate
The federal Parliament has two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is known as a bicameral parliament.
Question 5: How are laws made in Australia?
- By the Prime Minister alone
- By the monarch in Britain
- By the police
- By being passed through Parliament (Correct answer)
Correct answer: By being passed through Parliament
Laws are made by Parliament. A proposed law (a bill) must be passed by both houses of Parliament and given Royal Assent before it becomes law.
Question 6: Australia has three levels of government. Which of the following is one of them?
- Tribal government
- Local government (councils) (Correct answer)
- Royal government
- Corporate government
Correct answer: Local government (councils)
The three levels of government in Australia are federal, state/territory and local (councils). Each is responsible for different services and laws.
Question 7: Who interprets and applies the law in Australia and settles legal disputes?
- The courts and judges (Correct answer)
- Members of Parliament
- Local councillors
- Newspaper editors
Correct answer: The courts and judges
The courts, led by independent judges, interpret and apply the law and settle disputes. The judiciary is separate from Parliament and the government.
Question 8: What is the Constitution of Australia?
- A list of tourist attractions
- The set of rules by which Australia is governed (Correct answer)
- A history textbook
- A national song
Correct answer: The set of rules by which Australia is governed
The Australian Constitution is the legal framework, or set of rules, by which Australia is governed. It came into effect when the colonies federated in 1901.
Citizenship Government and the Law
What type of system of government does Australia have?