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Question

Difficulty: MediumLegislative Power (Parliament)

In the Australian system of government, the Constitution specifically describes the 'legislative power' of the Commonwealth. What is the primary function of the body that holds this power?

  1. To make and change laws for the whole of AustraliaAnswer
  2. B
    To put the laws into action and manage government departments
  3. C
    To interpret the meaning of laws and the Constitution

Answer

The primary function is to make and change laws for the whole of Australia
The correct answer is correct because 'legislative' literally refers to the making of laws. In the Australian Constitution, the Parliament is designated as the body with the power to make and change laws for the peace, order, and good government of the country.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the definition of 'legislative power' as used in the Australian Constitution.
Legislative power refers to the authority to create, amend, or repeal legislation.
The Constitution separates government powers into three distinct branches.
2
Determine which branch of government holds the legislative power.
The Federal Parliament holds the legislative power.
Under the Constitution, the Parliament (consisting of the King, the Senate, and the House of Representatives) is the law-making body.
3
Differentiate between legislative, executive, and judicial functions.
Legislative makes laws; Executive puts them into action; Judicial interprets them.
This separation ensures that no single group has total control over the legal system.

Key Concept

Legislative power in Australia is the power to make and change laws, vested in the Federal Parliament.

Hints

1
Think about what the word 'legislature' or 'legislation' usually means in a government context.
2
The Parliament is the body that discusses 'Bills' before they become Acts. What is the result of that process?
3
Legislative power is specifically the power to create the rules that the rest of the country must follow.

Practice More

Review the 'Separation of Powers' to understand how the Parliament, Executive, and Judicary work independently.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Legislative Power (Parliament)

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