In the Australian system of government, the Governor-General serves as the King's representative and performs various constitutional, ceremonial, and military duties. While the Governor-General holds significant formal powers under the Constitution, their role is largely defined by the principle of constitutional convention regarding how those powers are exercised. Which of the following best describes the constitutional relationship between the Governor-General and the Australian Government?
- AThe Governor-General independently reviews all laws passed by Parliament and has the final authority to reject any policy that the King does not personally approve.
- The Governor-General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers to perform their formal duties as the King's representative.Answer
- CThe Governor-General is appointed by the British Parliament to ensure that Australian laws remain identical to those passed in the United Kingdom.
Answer
The Governor-General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers to perform their formal duties as the King's representative.
The correct answer is correct because, in Australia's constitutional monarchy, the Governor-General represents the King but performs their constitutional duties—such as giving Royal Assent to bills or appointing ministers—based on the advice given by the Prime Minister and other government ministers (the Executive Council).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Constitutional Role of the Governor-General
Hints
1
Think about who actually runs the day-to-day government in Australia and how they interact with the King's representative.
Practice More
Review the concept of the 'Executive Council' to see how the Governor-General and Ministers meet to make official decisions.
Estimated Time:1m 30s