• Government ministers need most of both houses to agree before new laws can be made. If not, the law won’t pass. • Government ministers are members of parliament. They must answer questions about their actions.
FIGURE8 The division of powers and the separation of powers
State government
Each of Australia’s six states and two territories has its own parliament.
Federal government
There are two houses of federal parliament — an upper house (the Senate) and a lower house (the House of Representatives). The Prime Minister is the head of government. Ministers are appointed to look after particular government portfolios or departments. The Cabinet, which includes the Prime Minister and a group of senior ministers, makes the key government decisions. The Executive Council is chaired by the Governor- General, who represents the British monarch as head of state.
Local government
All parliaments have lower houses.
There are around 900 local government bodies in Australia (usually called councils). Council members are called aldermen or councillors. The head of the council is called a mayor or a shire president. Councils operate under state laws. They make rules, called by-laws, on local issues.
All but Queensland and the two territories have upper houses (legislative councils). The process of government is similar to that of the federal government. However, the head of government is the Premier (or Chief Minister in the territories) and the head of state (who represents the British monarch) is the Governor.
Responsibilities include : Employment Trade Defence Airports Immigration Pensions Taxation Shipping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander welfare Foreign affairs Health (Medicare) Education (universities, colleges, grants to schools)
Federal government
Governor-General House of Representatives Senate
High Court Federal Courts Family Court of Australia
Governor-General Executive Council Prime Minister Cabinet Ministers
Responsibilities include : Health (hospitals) Police services Tourism Housing State roads Education (primary and secondary schools) Aboriginal and Torres
State and territory governments
Supreme Courts County or District Courts Magistrates’ Courts Special courts Tribunals
Governor Executive Council Premier/Chief Minister Cabinet Ministers
Governor Legislative Assembly (House of Assembly in SA and Tas.) Legislative Council (neither Qld nor the ACT have an upper house)
Strait Islander welfare Environment protection
Key
Local governments
Parliament Executive Judiciary
Local governing bodies service the needs of cities, towns and communities in municipalities and shires.
Responsibilities include : Town planning Streets and bridges Sewerage Water supply Swimming pools Public libraries Education (kindergartens) Rubbish collection
SkillBuilder discussion Evaluating democratic institutions and systems ‘The separation of powers exists to protect us from the abuse of power.’
1. List arguments to support the statement. 2. List arguments to oppose the statement. 3. Which do you support?
12.5 SkillBuilder activity EVALUATING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND SYSTEMS Use the internet to ýnd who does these roles in our government. Then, construct a table showing if each role is legislative, executive or judicial. a. The minister for defence b. Your local member of the House of Representatives c. The Chief Justice of the High Court d. The minister for education in your state
458 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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