Question

Difficulty: EasyParliamentary Democracy

Australia's system of government is a parliamentary democracy. What is the fundamental role of the Australian people in this system?

  1. To elect representatives to Parliament to make laws and decisions on their behalfAnswer
  2. B
    To allow the military and police to make all national laws and political decisions
  3. C
    To let religious leaders decide the laws and regulations for the whole community

Answer

The fundamental role of the Australian people is to elect representatives to Parliament to make laws and decisions on their behalf.
The correct answer is correct because the defining feature of a parliamentary democracy is that the power of the people is exercised through elected representatives. These representatives meet in Parliament to make decisions and create laws that reflect the needs and values of the community that chose them.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Define the concept of a parliamentary democracy.
A parliamentary democracy is a system where the people hold the power but delegate it to representatives.
This provides the foundation for understanding how Australia is governed.
2
Identify how citizens participate in this system.
Citizens participate by voting in elections to choose who will represent them in Parliament.
Voting is the mechanism through which the 'will of the people' is translated into government representation.
3
Determine the role of those elected representatives.
Elected representatives are responsible for debating and passing laws that affect the community.
This explains why the representatives are chosen by the people in the first place.

Key Concept

The essence of parliamentary democracy is representation through elections.

Hints

1
Think about what happens during a federal election in Australia.
2
Does 'democracy' mean the people make every law themselves, or do they choose others to do it for them?

Practice More

Review the responsibilities of Members of Parliament to see how they represent their local areas after being elected.
Estimated Time:45s
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