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Civics & Citizenship - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Representative Democracy- representatives are elected to make laws on our behalf
      - A Sovereign e.g King, Queen or Governor General- to act as the head of state and hold many powers such as being able to give final approval to all laws made by the parliament. The Sovereign or Crown laws also has a ceremonial role, including representing the country at national and international events.
        
        Justice- people should treat each other in a manner that is fair and balanced for all. Key features in Aus legal systems are designed to give justice to all
        Participation- good citizens take part in society through activities such as voting in elections or referendums, serving on a jury and paying their taxes
        Citizens who participate reap the rewards of living in a society where members of heir parliament seek to represent their views, those who broke the law are treated fairly and the services that we can all use like schools and roads
        One of the most important ways we can participate in a democracy by voting in an election. We have the power to change the way our country is ran
        Governments can also give citizens the opportunity to participate in important decisions out of elections and referendum
        
        Rights and Responsibilities- Rights/ protection against discrimination, the right to vote, protection against acquisition of property unjust terms, the right to trial by jury and the right to freedom of religion
        Responsibilities/ voting in elections, jury duty, pay taxes and obeying the laws
  - - - Equality- rights and privileges of all, without discriminations based on their gender, race, religion, age, sexual preferences or level of education. All citizens have the right to the same opportunities.
        Fairness- all people are treated fairly, or without injustice, and given an equal opportunity (a fair go)
        Freedom- Equal rights, privileges, and responsibilities for all without interference, or control from other citizens or government
        
        The Westminster System - a parliament. Consisting of two chambers or houses, that is elected by the people to make laws on their behalf. Citizens vote for members of the parliament in free and fair elections and all laws must be passed by a majority vote (over half) of the representatives in both houses
- - - - Australia's National Parliament- known as Federal or Commonwealth parliament. Makes laws about immigration, defence and trade (that concerns the whole country). The political system is a way of determining who had the power and responsibility for making decisions about important matters that affect people's daily lives, which is in our constitution
        
        Inner Workings of the Commonwealth Parliament- AKA House of Representatives, Australia is split into 150 electorates or seats. Each electorate has approximately 94,000 voters and one candidate is voted from each electorate.
        Most members will belong to a political party
        One or a group of parties, known as coalition, that wins a majority of seats on the HOR (50% + 1) will have won the election and forms government
        The party's leader that has won is the opposition
        If no party can get 76 seats then that is known as a hung parliament
        They can negotiate with minor parties or independents and form a minority government
        The job of the opposition is to hold the government accountable for its actions
        
        Upper House- AKA the Senate, initially set up to protect the interests of the states, and each state should be equal regardless of its size. Every state has 12 senators, and the ACT and the BT have 2 each. They are elected to represent the interests of the state they are in, but normally belong to a political party and will be influenced by that rather than by the state interests
        
        Why Two Houses? A house that checks what the government of the day is doing and holds it accountable
        
        Parliament- The commonwealth parliament includes both houses of parliament, as well as the governor general. The GG is appointed by the queen on the advice of the prime minister. They appoint ambassadors, ministers and judges and also approved laws passed by both houses of parliament
        
        Government- The party of coalition that has a majority of seats in the HOR