TUNING IN
What do you think of when you hear the terms 'government' and 'democracy'?
What do you think they mean?
Share your ideas with your group, then check using a dictionary...
What do you think of when you hear the terms 'government' and 'democracy'?
What do you think they mean?
Share your ideas with your group, then check using a dictionary...
EXPLORING LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL WEBSITES
Warringah Council http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/
Manly Council http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/
NSW State Government http://www.nsw.gov.au/your-government
Australian Federal Government http://www.australia.gov.au/
Parliament Ed Office links http://www.peo.gov.au/resources/external-websites.html
Warringah Council http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/
Manly Council http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/
NSW State Government http://www.nsw.gov.au/your-government
Australian Federal Government http://www.australia.gov.au/
Parliament Ed Office links http://www.peo.gov.au/resources/external-websites.html
The Separation of Powers: Judicial, Executive and Legislative Arms of Government
The Australian Government, sometimes referred to as the Commonwealth Government or the federal government, was established by the Australian Constitution. It is divided into three arms:
Read an introduction to the Separation of Powers by clicking here.
More information on each level can be found here.
- legislature (law-makers)
- executive (administrators)
- judiciary (judges/ enforcers of the laws)
Read an introduction to the Separation of Powers by clicking here.
More information on each level can be found here.
Click on the image to go to the Behind the News Topics page. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page for the section called 'From the Archives'. There is a picture of the Australian Coat of Arms and text 'Our Government System, Voting, Voting Facts, Parliamentary Privilege and Separation of Powers'. Click on the picture and watch the video on the Separation of Powers. You can come back to watch the other videos another time.
The Australian Constitution
A constitution is a set of rules by which a country or state is run.
"The Australian Constitution is the set of rules by which Australia is run. It came into effect on 1 January 1901, establishing the Commonwealth of Australia. It has been an important document in shaping Australian society ever since." Read more about it here.
"Before 1901, Australia was not a nation. The continent was shared by six British colonies which were partly self-governing, but subject to the law-making power of the British Parliament." Read more about that here.
"The Constitution is the legal framework for how Australia is governed and it can only be changed by referendum." Read more about that here.
"The Constitution states that federal elections must be called at least every three years. It also ensures senators and members of the House of Representatives are directly chosen by the people." Read more about it here.
"Before 1901, Australia was not a nation. The continent was shared by six British colonies which were partly self-governing, but subject to the law-making power of the British Parliament." Read more about that here.
"The Constitution is the legal framework for how Australia is governed and it can only be changed by referendum." Read more about that here.
"The Constitution states that federal elections must be called at least every three years. It also ensures senators and members of the House of Representatives are directly chosen by the people." Read more about it here.
Prime Ministers of Australia
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Australian Government and the leader of the nation. Since Federation in 1901, Australia has had 28 Prime Ministers, with Tony Abbott being the 28th. To find out more about the role of the Prime Minister, please click on the picture or here.
TIMELINE OF AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINSTERS
A timeline from the National Archives of Australia is here.
The Australian Electoral Commission's timeline is here.
A timeline from the National Archives of Australia is here.
The Australian Electoral Commission's timeline is here.
BIOGRAPHIES AND INFORMATION ON EACH OF AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINSTERS
Kidcyber has information on our past PMs.
The National Archives of Australia has great biographies here.
The Museum of Australian Democracy has factsheets you can download.
The National Museum of Australia has information on PMs up to John Howard, with links for Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.
More information on Tony Abbott can be found on the official Prime Minister of Australia page.
Kidcyber has information on our past PMs.
The National Archives of Australia has great biographies here.
The Museum of Australian Democracy has factsheets you can download.
The National Museum of Australia has information on PMs up to John Howard, with links for Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.
More information on Tony Abbott can be found on the official Prime Minister of Australia page.
Our current Parliament
Information about our current Parliament
Today’s Parliament is the 44th elected since federation in 1901. It was officially opened on 12 November 2013 following the federal election held on 7 September 2013. Click on the picture or here to find out more.
Who's who in our current government? Check it out here.
Download the PDF with the complete set of information on the make up of the two houses, who is responsible for what, and extra information on the other parties, the other jobs in parliament, what's on and extra links.
Want more?
Today’s Parliament is the 44th elected since federation in 1901. It was officially opened on 12 November 2013 following the federal election held on 7 September 2013. Click on the picture or here to find out more.
Who's who in our current government? Check it out here.
Download the PDF with the complete set of information on the make up of the two houses, who is responsible for what, and extra information on the other parties, the other jobs in parliament, what's on and extra links.
Want more?
How does our voting system support democracy?
We've learned about how to vote and how the preferential voting system works in Australia.
Let's learn about referendums and the importance of a referendum that took place in Australia in 1967.
To begin with, click on the image below to watch a BTN story on the Constitution and the 1967 referendum to change a small but important part of it.
Let's learn about referendums and the importance of a referendum that took place in Australia in 1967.
To begin with, click on the image below to watch a BTN story on the Constitution and the 1967 referendum to change a small but important part of it.
What are referendums?
Have a look at the AEC site to find out more about the different kinds of referendums and a history of referendums in Australia.
To find out more about the 1967 referendum to give Aboriginal people the same rights as others in Australia you can look at this Skwirk page
this page from Creative Spirits
you can read more about the history of Aboriginal people from Federation until the referendum here
and there are some more facts here.
Have a look at the AEC site to find out more about the different kinds of referendums and a history of referendums in Australia.
To find out more about the 1967 referendum to give Aboriginal people the same rights as others in Australia you can look at this Skwirk page
this page from Creative Spirits
you can read more about the history of Aboriginal people from Federation until the referendum here
and there are some more facts here.
Did you know that the tent embassy has been on the lawn opposite old Parliament House since 1972?
You can read a lot more about the Aboriginal tent embassy by clicking on some of the links below.
Five fast facts
Tent Embassy timeline
Aboriginal tent embassy
Fire in the belly - Aboriginal tent embassy
You can read a lot more about the Aboriginal tent embassy by clicking on some of the links below.
Five fast facts
Tent Embassy timeline
Aboriginal tent embassy
Fire in the belly - Aboriginal tent embassy