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Civics and Citizenship (Concepts (Democracy: a system of government run by…

- - - - Freedom
        
        Rights, privileges, and responsibilities for all without interference, or control from other citizens or government.
      - Equality
        
        Rights and privileges for all, without discriminations based on gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation or level of education. All citizens have the right to the same opportunities.
      - Fairness
        
        All people are treated fairly, or without injustice, and are given an equal opportunity. Also known as a ‘fair go’ in Australia.
      - Respect
        
        Treating others with consideration and valuing their views, beliefs, and rights.
    - - Citizens meeting together to make laws for their society
    - - Representatives are elected to make laws on our behalf
  - - - 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 (over half) of the representatives in both houses.
    - - To act as the Head of State and hold various powers including being required to give final approval to all laws made by the parliament. The sovereign or Crown also has a ceremonial role, including representing the country at national and international events.
  - - - The right to vote
      - Protection against acquisition of property on unjust terms
      - The right to trial by jury
      - The right to freedom of religion
      - Protection against discrimination
    - - Voting in elections
      - Jury service
      - Pay taxes
      - Obeying the law
- - - - Australia is divided up into 150 geographical divisions known as electorates, or seats
      - Each electorate has around 94000 voters
      - One candidate is voted from each electorate
        
        Majority of the members will belong to a political party
        
        A political party, or group of parties, known as a coalition, that wins a majority of seats in the HoR (50% plus 1) will have won the election, and forms government
        
        The leader of the party that has won the majority of seats in the HoR is the Prime Minister
        
        The largest number of seats but has not gained a majority is the opposition
        
        If neither party can get 76 seats, it is known as a hung parliament
        
        They can negotiate with monitor parties or independents and form a minority government
        
        The job of the opposition is to hold the government accountable for its actions
    - - Originally set up to protect the interests of the states
      - Each state has 12 senators, and ACT and NT have 2 senator each
      - They are elected to represent the interests of the state they belong to, however, they usually belong to a political party and will be influences by party policy rather than state interests
      - The Senate is seen as the House of Review
        
        A house that checks what the government of the day is doing and holds it accountable for its actions
    - - Elections are held at regular intervals
      - Australia is a liberal democracy
        
        Certain values are viewed as extremely important
        
        Freedom of speech
        
        Freedom of Religion (to a degree)
    - - The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister
      - They appoint ambassadors, ministers, and judges and also approves laws passed by both houses of parliament
  - - - Defence, immigration, and trade for the whole nation
    - - This is set out in the Australian Constitution
- - - - Our laws apply equally across Australia to all individuals and organisations and must be upheld by all
        
        Only those with the legal authority can enforce and change the law
- - - - Those who involve an individual who has been accused by the police in an unacceptable manner and who often receives a sanction
      - An individual (called the accused) who has committed an unlawful act that causes harm to another individual and/or society is brought to court by the state or government.
      - Summary (simple offences) are minor offences commonly heard in the Court of Magistrates
      - Indictable offences are serious crimes commonly heard by higher courts, such as the District Court and the Supreme Court.
        
        Cases in which an accused pleads not guilty to an indictable offence are generally heard before a judge and jury of twelve persons
        
        The jury determines guilt, and the judge determines the sanction
    - - Participate in private individuals or organisations battling for an alleged violation of individual rights
      - Disputes between individuals (or groups) over an alleged breach of individual rights
      - The party that believes that their rights have been infringed (plaintiff) will bring the case to court in the hope of obtaining a redress that will return them to the position they had before the misconduct, as far as practicable.
      - The most common type of civil remedy is a plaintiff being awarded a sum of money to compensate for their loss (damages)
      - Types of Civil Cases
        
        Negligence – an individual claims they have suffered injury due to another person’s failure to take reasonable care when there is a responsibility to do so
        
        Breach of contract – one individual believes another has failed to carry out the terms of a legally binding contract
        
        Defamation – a person believes they have suffered harm due to another person making false statements publicly
- - - - Improving working and living conditions of wage-earning citizens
      - More equal wealth disribution
      - More equal opportunity distribution
  - - - ecological sustainability
      - social justice
      - wealth distribution
      - economic development
- - - - Competing parties often engage in formal debates that are televised for the nation to see
      - Debates between opposition MPs are used as a way for parties to argue publicly that their party platform is best
    - - What we read online, watch on TV and listen on the radio affects our view of the candidates
      - Not all information is reported impartially and we can sometimes be persuaded by how news outlets portray a party or independent
    - - Through taking polls, analysts assess the public opinion of various parties and independents. These are a good way for politicians to assess their results, but it can also affect the opinion of the electorate
    - - Parties can pay for advertising space on billboards, newspapers, websites, radio and television
      - This gives politicians the opportunity to reach voters and convince them that they are the best choice at election time
    - - Sometimes called lobby groups, interest groups are groups of organised individuals that will campaign on behalf of a certain issue
    - - The voter may be influenced by short term issues that affect them personally
    - - Some voters always vote for the same political party no matter what
  - - - Political parties will use Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to communicate with voters
    - - Political parties will use television and radio interviews, the evening news and newspapers to communicate with voters
    - - They will get out and talk to voters
    - - Capture attention with catchy slogans, jingles, and close up messages from the leader. Expose your opponents’ weaknesses
  - - - The voter marks their preference by putting a number in each box
      - If a voter does not follow the procedure outlined, the vote will be considered informal (incorrect and incomplete) and won’t be counted
      - The preferential system of voting is used to determine who will win a seat in the HoR. In order to win, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes, which is half of the votes plus one
      - If a candidate received the majority of the first preferences, they are elected straight away. If not, then the candidate with the fewest first preferences is eliminated and the second preferences on those ballot papers for that candidate are distributed to the other candidates
      - Members of the HoR are elected for a term of three years
    - - Senators are elected for 6 years
      - At election time, only half the positions in the Senate become vacant
      - After the election, half the Senate will consist of newly elected senators
      - The aim of this rotating system is so that the Senate reflects the view of voters at different times
      - The voter can vote for candidates in one of two ways:
        
        Voters can mark their preferences numbered from at least 1 to 6 for a party or group in the boxes above the line (although they can number all boxes above the line)
        
        Alternatively, they can number their preferences for candidates from at least 1 to 12 below the line (but they can number all boxes below the line if they wish)
      - Proportional representation is the voting system used in the Senate
      - In Senate elections, voters are voting to fill more than one vacancy
      - In order to win a place in the Senate, the candidate must reach a quota
      - A quota is determined by adding one to the total number of vacancies to be filled and then dividing this number by the total number of formal votes and adding one