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Question

Difficulty: HardParliamentary Democracy

Within the framework of Australia’s parliamentary democracy, the people’s role as the source of political power is not exhausted once an election is over. How does the system ensure that the authority exercised by the Parliament remains fundamentally connected to the will of the citizenry over time?

  1. By requiring representatives to stand for re-election at regular intervals, allowing the public to evaluate their performance and provide a renewed mandate.Answer
  2. B
    By granting the High Court the power to automatically repeal any legislation that does not receive a majority approval rating in public opinion polls.
  3. C
    By mandating that all citizens participate in a monthly referendum to confirm whether they still support the current members of Parliament.

Answer

The ongoing connection between the people and the Parliament is maintained through regular elections, which allow citizens to evaluate their representatives and provide a renewed mandate.
The correct answer identifies that the legitimacy of a parliamentary democracy relies on a cycle of accountability. By standing for re-election, members of Parliament are forced to answer to the voters for their legislative record. This regular evaluation process is what keeps the exercise of political power tied to the will of the people over the long term.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the people and the government in a parliamentary democracy.
In this system, the people are the source of all political power, but they delegate the exercise of that power to elected representatives.
This distinction between possessing power and exercising it is the core of representative government.
2
Identify the mechanism that prevents representatives from becoming independent of the people's will.
The system includes the requirement for regular, competitive elections.
Elections force representatives to remain responsive to their constituents if they wish to retain their positions.
3
Evaluate the purpose of a 'mandate' in this context.
A mandate is a temporary grant of authority that must be justified and renewed at each election cycle.
This cycle ensures that the exercise of power remains accountable to the original source of that power—the citizens.

Key Concept

The Cycle of Accountability and Representation

Practice More

Research the 'separation of powers' in Australia to see how the Parliament, Executive, and Judiciary interact to further protect democratic values.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Parliamentary Democracy

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