Australian citizenship test: Values: parliamentary democracy practice questions

Elected parliaments make the laws. Voting in federal and state elections is compulsory. Local election voting may not be compulsory in every state.

Question 1

Who determines Australia's laws?

  1. The churches, meeting as one body
  2. The police, without a vote in parliament
  3. Parliaments elected by the people

Answer: Parliaments elected by the people

Australia's system is a parliamentary democracy: laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people. Police enforce the law; they do not make it in place of parliament.

Question 2

Voting in local government elections

  1. is compulsory in every state, with no exception stated
  2. is conducted by the High Court rather than by an electoral body
  3. may not be compulsory in some states

Answer: may not be compulsory in some states

Voting is compulsory in federal and state or territory elections and in a referendum. The resource says it may not be compulsory to vote in local government elections in some states. Federal elections are run by the Australian Electoral Commission, not by the High Court.

Question 3

Citizens have a say in the government by

  1. taking a turn as Governor-General
  2. telling judges what verdict to reach
  3. voting for people to represent them

Answer: voting for people to represent them

Citizens vote for representatives in parliament. Judges are independent, and nobody, including a voter, tells them what to decide. The Governor-General is appointed, not rotated among voters.