Citizenship Practice Test 16 | Legislative, Executive, Judicial & Head of State Questions

Classic View of Practice Test 16 Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is legislative power?

Answer: Legislative power means having the power to make laws. This means the power to make new laws, amend or repeal existing laws. In Australia, this legislative power is in the hands of parliament. The Australian Parliament is also known as the Federal Parliament or the Commonwealth Parliament. There are 2 types of Houses in this Parliament. They are 1) the House of Representatives 2) the Senate.

Question 2: Who has the authority to make and change laws?

Answer: Legislative power in Australia is concentrated in the hands of parliament. The Australian Parliament is known as the Federal Parliament or the Commonwealth Parliament. This includes the Australian King, represented by the Governor-General, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Only Parliament has the authority to make new laws, as well as to change, amend, or repeal existing laws.

Question 3: How are members of the Australian Parliament elected?

Answer: Australian citizens aged 18 years or older, who are enrolled in the Australian electoral roll, elect members of parliament through a process known as preference voting. The election process is administered by the Australian Electoral Commission. The House of Representatives has 151 members, and the Senate has 76 members.

Question 4: What is the main function of the Australian Parliament?

Answer: The Australian Constitution established the Commonwealth of Australia Parliament, also known as the Federal Parliament. It consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Parliament has legislative powers, meaning it can make new laws, amend or change existing laws, and repeal them. Parliament is responsible for ensuring that the needs and interests of citizens are reflected in the laws governing the country.

Question 5: Who represents the people in the Australian Parliament?

Answer: Elected representatives to the Australian Parliament represent the people of Australia. Citizens can explain and raise concerns if there are any issues in their constituency, as well as provide suggestions for improving any system, in consultation with the representative elected by them. There are currently 151 members in the House of Representatives, each representing a constituency. There are 76 members in the Senate. This includes twelve from each of the six states and two from each mainland territory.

Question 6: Which department of the government is responsible for drafting laws in Australia?

Answer: The Australian Constitution established the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judiciary to divide the powers of government. The primary responsibility of the Australian Parliament, as part of the legislative branch, is to create laws necessary for the Australian people. Parliament has the authority to create new laws, amend or change existing laws, and repeal them. It is responsible for ensuring that the needs and interests of citizens are reflected in the formulation of laws that govern the country.

Question 7: What is executive power?

Answer: Executive power means the authority to put laws made by Parliament into practice and enforce them. According to the Australian Constitution, the King of Australia is assigned executive power, but the Governor-General exercises it as the King's representative. The Governor-General is appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia. The Governor-General decides the number of government departments, appoints the bureaucracy, and removes it. Judges are also appointed to Commonwealth courts.

Question 8: Who are the members of the executive branch in Australia?

Answer: The executive branch of Australia's government consists of the Prime Minister of the country, ministers of the Australian government, and the Governor-General as a representative of the King of Australia. Ministers are responsible for various government departments. This executive branch is tasked with putting government laws into practice and enforcing them. Additionally, it is responsible for the following aspects: 1) maintaining day-to-day administration, 2) proposing laws required by Parliament, and 3) deciding government policy and how to put it into practice.

Question 9: Who is responsible for government departments in Australia?

Answer: There are three types of government departments in Australia: 1) Parliament, as part of the legislative branch, makes laws; 2) the executive branch enforces the laws; and 3) the Department of Justice oversees their implementation. However, ministers are responsible for coordinating these government departments. Each minister oversees specific portfolios, ensuring the implementation of government policies and laws while providing effective governance for the development of all areas.

Question 10: What role does the Governor-General play in the Executive?

Answer: The Governor-General is a very crucial person in the Executive Branch and is responsible for putting into practice the laws made by Parliament and implementing them. The Governor-General of Australia represents the monarchy as the representative of 'His Majesty the Kings'. The King of Australia appoints the Governor-General as his representative on the advice of the prime minister of the country. The appointment is in line with the recommendations of the elected government in Australia. According to the Australian Constitution, the king of Australia is assigned executive power but the governor-general exercises executive power as the representative of the king. The Governor-General also performs constitutional and ceremonial duties.

Question 11: What is the main function of the Executive branch?

Answer: Executive power refers to the authority to implement and enforce laws made by Parliament. According to the Australian Constitution, executive power is assigned to the King of Australia but is exercised by the Governor-General as the King's representative. The Governor-General is appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia. The Governor-General determines the number of government departments, appoints and removes members of the bureaucracy, and appoints judges to the Commonwealth courts.

Question 12: What is the fundamental role of judges in the judicial system?

Answer: The Australian Constitution established an independent judiciary in Australia. As part of this, judges act independently of parliament and the government, without succumbing to political or other kinds of pressure or inducement in case judgments. The primary role of judges is to interpret the Constitution, provide a proper interpretation of the laws, apply them, and give fair judgments in accordance with the evidence available, based solely on legal principles.

Question 13: Are courts and judges independent of parliament and government in Australia?

Answer: Courts and judges in Australia operate independently of parliament and the government. The Australian Constitution established an independent judiciary in Australia. As part of this, judges act independently of any political or other kind of pressure or inducement in case judgments, interpreting the Constitution, providing proper interpretations of the laws, applying them, and delivering fair judgments based on legal principles.

Question 14: Where are the powers of the judiciary written in Australia?

Answer: The powers of the Australian judiciary are enshrined in the Australian Constitution. The structure and functions of the judicial system are explained in this constitutional document. There is an independent judiciary in Australia. As part of it, the High Court was established in Australia. It is the highest court of appeal in the country. The independence of the judicial system in Australia preserves its integrity and increases public confidence in the judiciary.

Question 15: What is the significance of judicial independence?

Answer: The independence of the judiciary is very important. The Australian Constitution established an independent judiciary in Australia. Fair and impartial judgments are made solely based on the evidence and legal principles. This also helps the general public maintain faith in the judiciary.

Question 16: Who interprets the laws in the Australian legal system?

Answer: A judicial system consisting of judges and courts interprets the Australian Constitution, provides proper interpretations of the laws, applies them, etc. Similarly, in court cases, fair judgments are given based solely on legal principles and the available evidence. The independence of the Australian judicial system is such that even the general public has increased confidence in it.

Question 17: Who is the Head of State of Australia?

Answer: The Head of State of Australia is the King of Australia. Currently, the Australian Head of State is 'His Majesty King Charles III'. He has been ruling Australia since 8 September 2022. According to the Australian Constitution, the Governor-General is the representative of the King and exercises executive power. Although the King is the Head of State, he does not participate in the day-to-day administration of the government. The Governor-General is appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia. The King is also the Head of State of the UK along with Australia.

Question 18: Who appoints the Governor-General of Australia?

Answer: The King of Australia appoints the Governor-General as his representative, acting on the advice of the country's prime minister. This appointment aligns with the recommendations of the elected government in Australia. According to the Australian Constitution, the King of Australia is vested with executive power, but the Governor-General exercises this power as the Kin's representative. The Governor-General also performs constitutional and ceremonial duties.

Question 19: On whose advice does the King appoint the Governor-General?

Answer: The King of Australia appoints the Governor-General as his representative on the advice of the country's prime minister. This appointment aligns with the recommendations of Australia's elected government.

Question 20: Does the King of Australia have a day-to-day role in government?

Answer: Although the King of Australia is the head of state of Australia, according to the Australian Constitution, he is not allowed to participate in the day-to-day administration of the government. The King of Australia appoints the Governor-General as his representative on the advice of the prime minister of the country.