YEAR 12 LEGAL STUDIES NOTES UNITS 3 AND 4
Year 12 Legal Studies Exam Notes
AREA OF STUDY 3
LAW-MAKING
Year 12 Legal Studies Exam Notes
AREA OF STUDY 1
PARLIAMENT AND THE CITIZEN
Year 12 Legal Studies Exam Notes
The Principle of Responsible Government • Our government is answerable and accountable to parliament, therefore to the people • It must act fairly and responsibly • If it doesn't it will lose the support of the parliament/people and it will be forced to resign/not be renewed for a another term • Ministers/MP’s are responsible to parliament, therefore the people • It needs the support of the lower house to stay as the government Responsible government refers to the concept that ministers and their leaders (premier/pm) are answerable to the parliament, and therefore the people, for their actions. The government is chosen by having the support of the lower house of parliament; if the government loses the confidence of parliament and the people it must resign. The government must act fairly and responsibly in their decision making and law-making. Sample Answer: Responsible government refers to the principle that ministers and their leaders (premiers/prime ministers) are answerable to the parliament, and therefore the people, for their actions. The government is chosen by having the support of the lower house of parliament; if the government loses the confidence of the parliament and the people it must resign. This ensures that the government must act fairly and responsibly in their decision making and law making.
Year 12 Legal Studies Exam Notes
The Principle of Representative Government • • • • • Government for the people, by the people People elect representatives Answerable to the people for their actions Must represent the views of the majority of people Failure to represent = loss of confidence = loss of government
Democracy creates a government that is run for the people, by the people.