Citizenship Practice Test 14 | System of Government & Federation – 20 Questions

Practice Test 14 - Pattern of 20 Questions and Answers

Question 1: What can Australian citizens do to raise their concerns about government policy?

Answer: There is a parliamentary democratic system of government in Australia, also known as representative democracy. This means that Australian citizens over the age of 18 exercise their right to vote through the secret ballot system and elect representatives to make their voices heard on their behalf in parliament. In this way, the winning public representative is represented in parliament. Australian citizens also have the opportunity to contact public representatives elected by them to express concerns about government policies and raise them.

Question 2: What is the purpose of contacting an elected representative?

Answer: Citizens in Australia are free to express their views on the framing of government laws and policies by consulting their elected representatives. This allows parliament to take into account the views of Australian citizens when framing new laws and considering changes to existing laws. The elected representatives serve as the voice of citizens in parliament, which is why it is also called a representative democracy.

Question 3: What should an elected representative do if a citizen suggests changing a law?

Answer: Representative democracy means that people's representatives, elected through a secret ballot system by citizens in elections, represent those citizens in parliament. Citizens can express their opinions by consulting their public representative while formulating government laws and policies in parliament and even raise concerns if necessary. For example, changes such as improving the immigration system or strengthening the transportation system. In that case, the elected representative will need to take into account what the citizens have suggested and change those laws.

Question 4: Who can raise concerns about government policy in Australia?

Answer: Since representative democracy is in force in Australia, all Australian citizens have the right to express their views and objections in the formulation of government laws and policies made in parliament by consulting a representative of the people elected by them, as well as to raise concerns about them. For example, Australians may consult with their representative to suggest their views on issues such as further improving the health care system or strengthening the education system, and the changes that need to be made in them. In addition, concerns can also be organized around them.

Question 5: What is the benefit of citizens raising their concerns with their representatives?

Answer: Citizens in Australia have the right to consult their elected representatives, freely express their opinions in framing the laws and policies of the government, and raise issues of concern to them. The views of citizens can also be taken into consideration when discussing new laws in Parliament or changes to existing laws. For example, if citizens have any suggestions on how to improve the immigration system, they can meet with an elected representative and explain them. Then, that representative will need to consider them and propose changes to the law.

Question 6: What did each colony have before 1901?

Answer: Britain established six different British self-governing colonies between 1788 and 1859. Each colony had its own parliament, courts, and constitution but was still subject to the laws of the British Parliament and courts. Each colony had its own laws relating to protection, immigration, postal services, trade, and transportation.

Question 7: What was one of the weaknesses of the separate colonies?

Answer: Each colony had its own constitution and its own laws relating to defence, immigration, postal services, trade, and transportation. Thus, the colonies faced many difficulties as the six colonies also had their own laws. For example, trade and transportation between the colonies were very valuable, but they were also very slow due to these laws. Enforcing the law on the borders was very difficult. Moreover, the separate colonies had very weak defence systems.

Question 8: Why did people want to unite the colonies?

Answer: Each colony had its own constitution in force. As well as each colony has its own government and laws, including its own defense, immigration, railway system, postal stamps, transportation, trade, and tariffs-taxes. This has resulted in many problems between the colonies. Trade and transport slowed down greatly, and defense systems in the colonies weakened. All these factors began to think extensively about the benefits of uniting the people into one nation and wanted to unite all the colonies.

Question 9: What was beginning to form in Australia before 1901?

Answer: Before 1901, the 'national identity of Australia' began to take shape. Several factors contributed to this development. The most important were: 1) The expansion of free and secular education in the 1870s, which helped strengthen the concept of belonging to a separate nation. 2) The publication of newspapers and magazines, such as The Bulletin, which provided a way to express the ideas of new Australians. 3) The people of Australia shared a common language, heritage, and blood through social homogeneity.

Question 10: How did Australian sporting teams participate in international events?

Answer: Sports teams have represented Australia internationally. These teams have played a very important role in strengthening national pride and identity while fostering a sense of unity among the separate colonies. The integration of the colonies into a federation made it possible to unite them as a single nation, reflecting the Australian national identity and cultural traditions. The main purpose of the federation was to unite the colonies under a central government for better coordination and protection.

Question 11: What was developing in popular culture before 1901?

Answer: Australian culture flourished in popular songs, poems, stories, and arts that were prominent prior to 1901. It is primarily of Western origin, influenced by its British, Indigenous, and colonial parts. Early Australian art included Aboriginal rock paintings and inscriptions, while literature initially consisted of oral stories passed down through generations. The arrival of European settlers in the 18th century introduced new artistic and literary styles to Australia. Charles Harpur, an Australian poet, is considered 'Australia's most important nineteenth-century poet'.

Question 12: What was the idea of uniting the nation considered to be?

Answer: Prior to 1901, the idea of uniting all the separate colonies in Australia and making them a separate country was considered a very difficult task. Because before 1901, Australia was made up of 6 different self-governing British colonies. Those colonies were 1) New South Wales 2) Victoria 3) Queensland 4) South Australia 5) Tasmania and 6) Western Australia. But each colony had its own constitution. There were also special laws relating to defence, immigration, postal, trade and transportation. So it became very difficult in those days to unite those colonies.

Question 13: What idea eventually became a reality in Australia?

Answer: Over time, the idea of uniting all the separate colonies and creating a separate Australian nation became a reality. Colonies began to unite in the 1880s as the British government supported the Federation to continue its influence in the South Pacific. The colonies merged with each other to create a new nation, and the federal parliament shared power with the state parliaments.

Question 14: When were the colonies united into a federation?

Answer: After the British settlement and before 1901, Australia was made up of six separate, self-governing British colonies. Uniting a country is a very difficult task, but over time, the idea of being an Australian country has become a reality. On January 1, 1901, the colonies formed a federation of states known as the Commonwealth of Australia, and the 6 colonies became 6 separate states in the newly formed federation. On January 1, 1901, the Australian Constitution came into force and the Australian colonies became an independent country.

Question 15: What was the federation of states called?

Answer: On January 1, 1901, the colonies formed a federation of states known as the Commonwealth of Australia, and the 6 colonies became 6 separate states in the newly formed federation.

Question 16: What did the unification of the colonies help to address?

Answer: Each colony also has its own constitution and its own laws relating to defence, immigration, etc. Due to this, all the colonies had to face many difficulties due to the lack of similarity and coordination in the laws between the colonies. For example, while trade and transportation between colonies was very valuable, it was very slow. It was difficult to enforce the law on the borders. Uniting the colonies helped resolve the difficulties among them.

Question 17: What was one of the reasons for uniting the colonies?

Answer: The 6 boroughs established by Britain before 1901 had their own constitution and laws, causing various difficulties between the colonies. Transportation and trade were valuable but slow and sluggish. It became very difficult to enforce the law on the borders. These difficulties needed to be addressed. Along with this, strengthening the defense systems of particular colonies was also one of the reasons for uniting the colonies.

Question 18: What was the main purpose of federation?

Answer: The main purpose of the federation is to unite the colonies as a country with the central government for better coordination and protection. In 1901, however, all these colonies were united to form the 'Commonwealth of Australia'. It is a federation of states and territories. Of these, 6 colonies became 6 states and consisted of 2 mainland territories. The capital of Australia is Canberra. Each state and mainland has its own capital.

Question 19: How many self-governing colonies existed in Australia before federation?

Answer: There were 6 different boroughs established by Britain in Australia before the Federation. These colonies were 1) New South Wales, 2) Victoria, 3) Queensland, 4) South Australia, 5) Tasmania, and 6) Western Australia. However, each colony had its own constitution. There were also special laws relating to defence, immigration, postal services, trade, and transportation. These 6 colonies later formed 6 separate states in the Commonwealth of Australia, which was established in 1901.

Question 20: What powers did each colony have before federation?

Answer: Prior to the Federation, each colony had its own parliament, courts, and constitution but was still subject to the laws of the British Parliament and the courts. Each colony had its own laws relating to protection, immigration, postal services, trade, and transportation.