Lexi Webster
Australia is a democratic country, which means that the people who live there have the power to make decisions about how the country is run. This is called 'rule by the people' and comes from the ancient Greek words 'demos' (the people) and 'kratos' (to rule). There are different types of democracy, and Australia is a representative democracy, where citizens choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Australia also has a constitution, which is a set of rules that govern the country and have been in place since 1901. Democracy in Australia is supported by key features like freedom of speech, fair elections, inclusion, and the rule of law, where everyone is equal and must follow the law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Democracy | Rule by the people |
| Representative democracy | Citizens choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf |
| Constitutional democracy | A set of rules used to govern the country |
| Freedom of speech | People have the freedom to act, speak and think freely |
| Fair elections | Elections are run by an independent organisation, the Australian Electoral Commission |
| Inclusion | Everyone is equal before the law and must follow it |
| Rule of law | Laws are fair, clearly written, and protect people's rights |
| Three levels of government | N/A |
| Preferential voting system | N/A |
| Stable economy | One of the strongest performing economies in the world |
| High living standards | Australians enjoy some of the highest living standards in the world |
| Culturally diverse | One of the most multicultural countries in the world |
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What You'll Learn
What is democracy?
Democracy is a system of government where people have the power to participate in decision-making. The word comes from the ancient Greek words 'demos' (the people) and 'kratos' (to rule). This means that in a democracy, the people get to decide who will make important choices for the country. Each democracy is unique and works in different ways.
There are different types of democracy. In some, people make decisions directly by voting on laws and policies. This is called direct democracy. In Australia, citizens choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf, known as representative democracy. Australia is also a constitutional democracy, which means it has a constitution or a set of rules that govern the country.
Democracy is supported by key features like freedom of speech, fair elections, inclusion, and the rule of law. This means that everyone is equal before the law and must follow it, including those who make the laws. Laws should be fair and protect people's rights. For example, in Australia, people have the freedom to act, speak, and think freely, as long as it does not stop others from doing the same.
To be informed voters, it is important to understand the history of politics, political parties, and the wider social and natural world in which democratic decisions are made. It is also essential to have literacy and critical reading skills to navigate complex information and understand how to vote and engage with others. Being curious about the world, having empathy for others, and being open to different perspectives are all part of being an informed voter.
Australia is a democratic country that values inclusion, cultural diversity, and equal opportunities for its citizens. It has a strong economy and is committed to international responsibilities, such as providing development assistance to other countries and promoting peace and security.
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How is Australia ruled?
Australia is a democratic country, which means that the people get to take part in making decisions about how the country is run. Democracies can work in different ways. In Australia, citizens vote for representatives to make decisions on their behalf. This is called a representative democracy.
Australia also has a constitution, which is a set of rules that are used to govern the country. This has been in place since 1 January 1901. The country also has three levels of government and a preferential voting system.
Australia's democracy is supported by four key features: freedom of speech, fair elections, inclusion, and the rule of law. This means that everyone is equal before the law and must follow it, including those who make the laws. Laws should be fair, easy to understand, and protect people's rights. Elections are run by an independent organisation, the Australian Electoral Commission.
Australia is a successful global leader and innovator, with a strong economy and a highly skilled workforce. It is also one of the most multicultural countries in the world, with people from almost 200 countries living there and more than 300 languages spoken in Australian homes.
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What is a constitutional democracy?
Australia is a democratic country, and there are different types of democracies. A constitutional democracy is a type of democracy that is governed by a constitution, which is a set of rules. Australia is a constitutional democracy and has been since 1 January 1901, when the country became a nation, forming the Commonwealth of Australia.
A democracy means 'rule by the people'. The word comes from the ancient Greek words 'demos' (the people) and 'kratos' (to rule). In a democracy, the people have the power to participate in decision-making. Each democracy is unique and works differently. In some democracies, people directly make decisions by voting on laws and policies. This is called direct democracy. In other democracies, like Australia, citizens choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf. This is known as representative democracy.
Australia's democracy is supported by key features such as freedom of speech, fair elections, inclusion, and the rule of law. Elections in Australia are run by an independent organisation, the Australian Electoral Commission. Everyone is equal before the law and must follow it, including lawmakers. Laws should be fair, clearly written, and protect people's rights. Australian citizens have freedom of speech, thought, and action, as long as it does not infringe on the same freedoms of others.
Australia's democracy also includes three levels of government and a preferential voting system. It is a stable, democratic, and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and a strong economy. Australia is also a global leader in innovation and collaboration and has a strong record of international cooperation and responsibility.
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How are elections run?
Australia is a democratic country, which means that it is ruled by its people. There are different types of democracy, and Australia is a representative democracy. This means that citizens choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
In Australia, there are three levels of government: local, state, and federal. Elections are held periodically to elect representatives for each of these levels. The federal government is based on a system of Parliament, which consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives (or lower house) and the Senate (or upper house). The House of Representatives has 150 members, and the Senate has 76 senators. Each state elects 12 senators, and each territory elects 2 senators.
Elections in Australia are run by an independent organisation, the Australian Electoral Commission. The process of electing representatives varies slightly between the House of Representatives and the Senate. For the House of Representatives, voters rank candidates on the ballot paper in order of preference. This is called preferential voting. If a candidate receives more than half of the first-preference votes, they are elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the candidate with the least number of votes is excluded, and their votes are transferred to the remaining candidates based on voters' preferences. This process continues until one candidate has a majority and is elected.
Senate elections also use a preferential system, but voters have a choice of voting 'above-the-line' or 'below-the-line'. The 'above-the-line' option allows voters to select a political party, and their votes are distributed according to that party's predetermined preferences. The 'below-the-line' option allows voters to rank individual candidates. The counting system for the Senate is designed to ensure that senators are elected in proportion to the votes received in each state or territory. This often results in a wider range of political parties and independents being elected to the Senate.
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Why are laws made?
Australia is a democratic country, which means that it is ruled by its people. Democracies are unique and work in different ways. In some democracies, people directly make decisions by voting on laws and policies. This is called direct democracy. Australia, however, is a representative democracy, which means that citizens choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Australia is also a constitutional democracy, which means it has a constitution, or a set of rules, that are used to govern the country. The Australian Constitution, in place since January 1, 1901, defines how laws are shared between the Federal Parliament and the Victorian Parliament. The legislative powers of the federal Parliament are limited to those set out in the Constitution. The Parliament of the Commonwealth can also legislate on matters referred to it by the Parliament of one or more states.
Laws are made to ensure that everyone is equal before the law and must follow the law. They should be fair, clearly written, and protect people's rights. They should also help maintain a safe and secure community. Laws are also made to resolve conflicts and different views peacefully.
In Australia, the process of creating a statute involves a Bill being drafted, usually by Parliamentary Counsel. The Bill is read, debated, and sometimes amended in both houses of Parliament before being approved. Once a bill has been passed, it must be assented to by the representative of the sovereign. Legislation may also be delegated to local councils, statutory authorities, or government departments, usually for minor statute laws.
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Frequently asked questions
A democratic country is a country where the people get to participate in making decisions about how the country is run. The word democracy comes from the ancient Greek words ‘demos’ (the people) and ‘kratos’ (to rule). There are different types of democracy. In Australia, people choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf. This is called representative democracy.
Democracies are supported by key features like freedom of speech, fair elections, inclusion, and the rule of law. This means everyone must follow the law, including those who make the laws. The laws should be fair and protect people's rights.
An absolute monarchy is a form of rule where one person has all the power and is not restricted by written rules or laws. In absolute monarchies, there is no constitution, which is the set of rules used to govern a country. Examples of countries ruled by absolute monarchy include Vatican City and Brunei.
Elections in Australia are run by an independent organisation called the Australian Electoral Commission. Citizens get to choose their representatives by voting in elections. Australia was one of the first countries in the world to give women the right to vote, back in 1902.
