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Quick questions on Liberal Democracy, Representative and Responsible Government - TCE Legal Studies (Tasmania)
4short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is liberal democracy?Show answer
A liberal democracy combines two ideas. The democratic part means the people rule, mainly by choosing their government through free, fair and regular elections. The liberal part means that government power is limited so that individual freedoms are protected, even from a majority. In Australia this includes protections such as the rule of law, an independent judiciary, freedom of expression and the separation of powers.
What is legitimacy?Show answer
Legitimacy means the right of a government to hold and use power because that power is accepted as lawful and proper by the people. In Australia legitimacy flows from the consent of the governed, expressed at elections. A government that wins a majority in the House of Representatives can claim a mandate to govern. Legitimacy also depends on following lawful processes: laws must be made through the proper parliamentary procedure, and power must be exercised within the limits of the Constitution.
What is representative government?Show answer
Representative government means that the people do not make laws directly but elect members of parliament to represent them and make law on their behalf. Section 7 and section 24 of the Australian Constitution require that the Senate and the House of Representatives be directly chosen by the people. At the Tasmanian level, voters elect members to the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council. Representatives are accountable to their electorates and must face the voters again at the next election, which is the main way the people control those who govern them.
What is responsible government?Show answer
Responsible government means that the executive government (the Prime Minister or Premier and the Cabinet) is drawn from and answerable to parliament. Several conventions make this work. The government must command the confidence of the lower house: if it loses a vote of no confidence, it must resign or call an election. Ministers are individually responsible for their departments and must answer questions in parliament, and the Cabinet is collectively responsible for government decisions.
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