Question

Difficulty: MediumHead of State and the Governor-General

In the Australian system of government, the Governor-General has a formal role in the executive branch. When the Governor-General meets with the Prime Minister and other ministers to formally approve government decisions and regulations, what is this body called?

  1. The Federal Executive CouncilAnswer
  2. B
    The Cabinet
  3. C
    The Senate

Answer

The Federal Executive Council
The Federal Executive Council is the correct term for the formal body, presided over by the Governor-General, that gives legal force to government decisions such as making regulations, appointing officials, and issuing proclamations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the formal executive body established by the Australian Constitution for the purpose of advising the Governor-General.
The Federal Executive Council.
Section 62 of the Australian Constitution established the Federal Executive Council to advise the Governor-General in the government of the Commonwealth.
2
Differentiate between the working policy group (Cabinet) and the formal approval group (Executive Council).
The Governor-General does not attend Cabinet meetings but presides over the Federal Executive Council.
This separation maintains the neutrality of the Governor-General while providing a formal mechanism for giving legal force to the decisions made by the government.

Key Concept

The role of the Governor-General in the Federal Executive Council

Hints

1
Think about the formal group mentioned in the Constitution that includes both the Governor-General and government ministers.
2
This body is used to formally sign off on government actions, such as appointing judges or making regulations, after the political decisions have already been made.
3
It is different from the Cabinet, which is where the Prime Minister and senior ministers meet privately to discuss their political plans.

Practice More

Research the specific section of the Australian Constitution (Section 62) that defines the role of the Federal Executive Council.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question