Question

Difficulty: MediumHead of State and the Governor-General

In the Australian parliamentary system, the Governor-General performs the duties of the Head of State on behalf of the King. Who is responsible for providing the advice that the King follows when appointing a Governor-General?

  1. The Prime MinisterAnswer
  2. B
    The Australian people during a general election
  3. C
    The Premiers of the Australian states

Answer

The Prime Minister is responsible for advising the King on the appointment of the Governor-General.
The correct answer is the Prime Minister because, according to the Australian Constitution and established conventions, the King appoints the Governor-General as his representative at the federal level specifically based on the advice given by the leader of the Australian Government.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the relationship between the King and the Governor-General.
The Governor-General is the King's representative in Australia.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy where the monarch is the formal Head of State but resides outside the country.
2
Determine how the appointment process works in a constitutional monarchy.
The King appoints the representative based on official advice.
Under the Australian Constitution, the monarch acts on the advice of Australian government leaders.
3
Identify which leader provides that specific advice for the federal level.
The Prime Minister.
As the leader of the federal government, the Prime Minister has the authority to advise the King on this appointment.

Key Concept

The appointment of the Governor-General in a constitutional monarchy.

Hints

1
Think about the leader of the federal government who interacts directly with the King regarding national matters.
2
While the Governor-General is the representative of the King, the choice of who fills that role is made by the Australian government leader.

Practice More

Review the specific constitutional duties the Governor-General performs after being appointed, such as giving Royal Assent to laws.
Estimated Time:45s
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