Australia is a parliamentary democracy, which is a fundamental part of its system of government. Which of the following best describes how this system functions in practice?
- Citizens elect representatives to the parliament to make laws and decisions on their behalf.Answer
- BCitizens vote directly on every individual law and government decision in a national ballot.
- CThe Australian Government is appointed by religious leaders to ensure laws match their beliefs.
Answer
The correct answer is that citizens elect representatives to the parliament to make laws and decisions on their behalf.
In a parliamentary democracy, the authority to make laws is vested in the parliament. Because it is a democracy, that authority comes from the people, who choose who will sit in that parliament during regular elections. These representatives are then responsible for making decisions that reflect the interests of the Australian people.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Parliamentary Democracy
Hints
1
Think about what happens during a federal election in Australia.
2
Does every citizen go to a polling booth every time a new law is proposed in Canberra?
3
The word 'representative' is key. We choose people to act for us.
Practice More
Review the roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate to see how these elected representatives are organized.
Estimated Time:45s