HASS Exam UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Civics and Citizenship: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Levels of government and their roles/examples of government organisations - CORRECT
ANSWER - In Australia, there is a national parliament that makes laws that concern the
whole country such as defence, immigration and trade for the whole nation. This national
parliament is sometimes called the Federal or Commonwealth Parliament and is situated in
Canberra. Each of the six states and two territories in Australia also has a parliament that makes
laws on matters of state importance such as education, transport and health. Each state
parliament is democratically elected. Local councils are not called parliaments, but they do make
laws on local matters such as rubbish collection, town planning and pet control. Local councils
are democratically elected and there are more than 560 local councils in Australia today.
Workings of Australian Parliament - CORRECT ANSWER - Australian Parliament
consists of two sections referred to as the upper and lower houses of parliament.
lower house - CORRECT ANSWER - The lower house of our Commonwealth Parliament
is called the House of Representatives. Since we have a representative democracy,
representatives are chosen from all over Australia to represent our views. In order to achieve this
representation, Australia is divided into 150 geographical divisions known as electorates, or
seats. Each electorate has roughly 94000 voters. At election time, one candidate is elected. from
each electorate and becomes a member of the House of Representatives. It is fitting that the
House of Representatives is sometimes called 'the people's house. It s where government is
formed; decides matters of national interest; represents the interests of people in their electorates;
proposes, debates and votes of bills and amendments and makes laws
What to do to form government - CORRECT ANSWER - A political party or group of
parties, known as a coalition, that wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives (at
least 7 6 of 150 seats) will have won the election, and forms government. The leader of the party
(or coalition) that has won the majority of seats in the House of Representatives is the Prime
Minister. The leader of the party (or coalition) that has the largest number of seats but has not
gained a majority in the House of Representatives is the opposition leader.
,What happens if it is a hung parliament - CORRECT ANSWER - If neither party can get
76 seats for a majority, it is known as a hung parliament. In such cases, it is possible to form a
significant party to form a minority government by negotiating with minor parties or
independents for their support.
The upper house - CORRECT ANSWER - The upper house of our Commonwealth
Parliamentis called the Senate. It was originally set up to protect the interests of the states. When
the Constitution was written, it was decided that each state should be equally represented
regardless of its size, so that the smaller states would still have a say. Each state is represented by
12 senators today. The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory are represented by
two senators each. Senators are elected to represent the interests of the state they belong to.
What is the purpose of the senate house - CORRECT ANSWER - An important purpose of
having the Senate is that it is seen as a house of review - a house that checks what the
government of the day is doing and holds it accountable for its actions.
Arms of government - CORRECT ANSWER - the introduction of the separation of powers
between three arms of government - executive,
legislative and judicial branches
executive - CORRECT ANSWER - Enforces laws- made up of the prime minister, the
ministers, and government departments
legislative - CORRECT ANSWER - the branch of government that makes the laws-
Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)
judicial - CORRECT ANSWER - Interprets the laws-supreme and federal courts
Australian constitution - CORRECT ANSWER - A document that describes the rules that
govern Australia, defines the structure of government and its citizens rights. The political system
we have today is set out in a document called the Australian Constitution, which commenced on
1 January 1901. The Constitution established a federal parliamentary system where the
, responsibility to make or change laws in certain areas is shared by one national parliament and
six state parliaments.
The Westminster system - CORRECT ANSWER - Australia's system of government is
based on the Westminster system. The Westminster system is a form of parliamentary
government originating in the United Kingdom
Features - CORRECT ANSWER - a parliament, consisting of two chambers or houses,
that is elected by the people to make laws on their behalf. Citizens vote for members of the
parliament in free and fair elections and all laws must be passed by a majority (over half) of the
representatives in both houses.
a sovereign (such as a king, queen or governor- general) to act as the Head of State and hold
various powers including being required to give final approval to all laws made by the
parliament. The sovereign or Crown also has an important ceremonial role, including
representing the country at national and international events.
The major political parties and their main focus area - CORRECT ANSWER -
Labour - CORRECT ANSWER - Australia's oldest political party
Believes that the government should play a strong national role
Strives for a fairer Australia for all workers
Tries to close the gap between the rich and poor so that wealth is more evenly distributed
Liberal - CORRECT ANSWER - • Believes in the power of the individual and business to
make their own choices and prosper
• Strives for less government control
• The Liberals and the Nationals join forces at the federal level so they have enough members to
form government
The Nationals - CORRECT ANSWER - Represents the interests of those Australians that
live outside the cities in country Australia
Believes in strong local communities, referring to themselves as the 'local champions'
CORRECT Answers
Civics and Citizenship: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Levels of government and their roles/examples of government organisations - CORRECT
ANSWER - In Australia, there is a national parliament that makes laws that concern the
whole country such as defence, immigration and trade for the whole nation. This national
parliament is sometimes called the Federal or Commonwealth Parliament and is situated in
Canberra. Each of the six states and two territories in Australia also has a parliament that makes
laws on matters of state importance such as education, transport and health. Each state
parliament is democratically elected. Local councils are not called parliaments, but they do make
laws on local matters such as rubbish collection, town planning and pet control. Local councils
are democratically elected and there are more than 560 local councils in Australia today.
Workings of Australian Parliament - CORRECT ANSWER - Australian Parliament
consists of two sections referred to as the upper and lower houses of parliament.
lower house - CORRECT ANSWER - The lower house of our Commonwealth Parliament
is called the House of Representatives. Since we have a representative democracy,
representatives are chosen from all over Australia to represent our views. In order to achieve this
representation, Australia is divided into 150 geographical divisions known as electorates, or
seats. Each electorate has roughly 94000 voters. At election time, one candidate is elected. from
each electorate and becomes a member of the House of Representatives. It is fitting that the
House of Representatives is sometimes called 'the people's house. It s where government is
formed; decides matters of national interest; represents the interests of people in their electorates;
proposes, debates and votes of bills and amendments and makes laws
What to do to form government - CORRECT ANSWER - A political party or group of
parties, known as a coalition, that wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives (at
least 7 6 of 150 seats) will have won the election, and forms government. The leader of the party
(or coalition) that has won the majority of seats in the House of Representatives is the Prime
Minister. The leader of the party (or coalition) that has the largest number of seats but has not
gained a majority in the House of Representatives is the opposition leader.
,What happens if it is a hung parliament - CORRECT ANSWER - If neither party can get
76 seats for a majority, it is known as a hung parliament. In such cases, it is possible to form a
significant party to form a minority government by negotiating with minor parties or
independents for their support.
The upper house - CORRECT ANSWER - The upper house of our Commonwealth
Parliamentis called the Senate. It was originally set up to protect the interests of the states. When
the Constitution was written, it was decided that each state should be equally represented
regardless of its size, so that the smaller states would still have a say. Each state is represented by
12 senators today. The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory are represented by
two senators each. Senators are elected to represent the interests of the state they belong to.
What is the purpose of the senate house - CORRECT ANSWER - An important purpose of
having the Senate is that it is seen as a house of review - a house that checks what the
government of the day is doing and holds it accountable for its actions.
Arms of government - CORRECT ANSWER - the introduction of the separation of powers
between three arms of government - executive,
legislative and judicial branches
executive - CORRECT ANSWER - Enforces laws- made up of the prime minister, the
ministers, and government departments
legislative - CORRECT ANSWER - the branch of government that makes the laws-
Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)
judicial - CORRECT ANSWER - Interprets the laws-supreme and federal courts
Australian constitution - CORRECT ANSWER - A document that describes the rules that
govern Australia, defines the structure of government and its citizens rights. The political system
we have today is set out in a document called the Australian Constitution, which commenced on
1 January 1901. The Constitution established a federal parliamentary system where the
, responsibility to make or change laws in certain areas is shared by one national parliament and
six state parliaments.
The Westminster system - CORRECT ANSWER - Australia's system of government is
based on the Westminster system. The Westminster system is a form of parliamentary
government originating in the United Kingdom
Features - CORRECT ANSWER - a parliament, consisting of two chambers or houses,
that is elected by the people to make laws on their behalf. Citizens vote for members of the
parliament in free and fair elections and all laws must be passed by a majority (over half) of the
representatives in both houses.
a sovereign (such as a king, queen or governor- general) to act as the Head of State and hold
various powers including being required to give final approval to all laws made by the
parliament. The sovereign or Crown also has an important ceremonial role, including
representing the country at national and international events.
The major political parties and their main focus area - CORRECT ANSWER -
Labour - CORRECT ANSWER - Australia's oldest political party
Believes that the government should play a strong national role
Strives for a fairer Australia for all workers
Tries to close the gap between the rich and poor so that wealth is more evenly distributed
Liberal - CORRECT ANSWER - • Believes in the power of the individual and business to
make their own choices and prosper
• Strives for less government control
• The Liberals and the Nationals join forces at the federal level so they have enough members to
form government
The Nationals - CORRECT ANSWER - Represents the interests of those Australians that
live outside the cities in country Australia
Believes in strong local communities, referring to themselves as the 'local champions'
