Political and Economic Understandings of Australia

1. Political and Economic Understandings of Australia Standards: SS6CG6 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government. a. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal. b. Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic. c. Describe the two predominate forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential. SS6CG7 The student will explain the structure of the national government of Australia. a. Describe the federal parliamentary democracy of Australia, distinguishing form of leadership, type of legislature, and the role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms. SS6E8 The student will analyze different economic systems. a. Compare how traditional, command, and market, economies answer the economic questions of 1 -what to produce, 2-how to produce, and 3-for whom to produce. b. Explain how most countries have a mixed economy located on a continuum between pure and market and pure command. c. Describe the economic system used in Australia. SS6E9 The student will give examples of how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Australia. a. Explain how specialization makes trade possible between countries. b. Compare and contrast different types of trade barriers, such as tariffs, quotas and embargos. c. Explain why international trade requires a system for exchanging currency between nations. SS6E10 The student will describe factors that influence economic growth and examine their presence or absence in Australia. a. Explain the relationship between investment in human capital (education and training) and gross domestic product (GDP). b. Explain the relationship between investment in capital goods (factories, machinery, and technology) and gross domestic product (GDP). c. Describe the role of natural resources in a country’s economy. d. Describe the role of entrepreneurship.

2. Australia’s Government • Australia’s government is a federal parliamentary democracy. • Australia has six states and two territories. • They are united by a national government. • Three branches make up the national government: executive, legislative, and judicial. • The executive branch includes the king or queen of England, the prime minister, and the cabinet. • The king or queen is represented by a governor-general. • Parliament elects the prime minister. • The prime minister acts as the head of government. • Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II • Prime Minister: Julia Gillard

3. Australian Parliament • Australia’s legislative branch is made up of the Australian Parliament. • The parliament has two houses: House of Representatives and Senate. • Citizens elect members of both houses. • Elected members of parliament then select the prime minister.

4. High Court of Australia • Australia’s judicial branch is made up of courts. • The High Court of Australia is the highest court in the country. • It decided if laws passed by parliament are allowed under Australia’s constitution. • The governor-general appoints the judges who serve on the High Court. • High Court Chief Justice: Robert French • Governor-general: Ms. Quentin Bryce

5. Australia’s Economy • Australia’s economy is mostly a market economy. • There is some government regulation of industries, but most businesses are privately owned. • Most of Australia's economy relies on banking, insurance, retail sales, and tourism. • Australia also exports a lot of agricultural products and has a thriving mining industry. • Australia depends on trade to keep a healthy economy.

6. Tourism • Millions of tourists come to Australia every year. • Tourism plays a very important part in Australia’s economy. • It creates jobs, increases economic production, and brings in a large amount of revenue. • Trade barriers affect Australia. • Perhaps Australia’s most challenging natural trade barrier is the Pacific Ocean. • Australia’s great distance from other countries make trade both important and difficult. • It is very expensive and takes long periods of time to ship goods so far.

7. Natural Resources • Australia benefits from natural resources like coal, iron ore, beef, gold, and some petroleum. • Australia also has a highly skilled work force. • The government invest in human capital by promoting education, job trading, and better health care. • Meanwhile, Australia’s overall market economy encourages entrepreneurship and investments in capital goods.

8. POP QUIZ

9. Question 1 Australia’s economy leans toward being a • Command economy • Market economy • Traditional economy • None of the above

10. Question 2 Which of the following is a political trade barrier that could affect Australia? • The Pacific Ocean • The Outback • Tariffs • Entrepreneurship

11. Question 3 The Aborigines of Australia face which of the following problems? • Overfishing • Poverty • Oil spills • Traditional customs

12. Question 4 The Pacific Ocean can be considered • A political trade barrier • A small part of the Coral Sea • A natural trade barrier • Unimportant for trade

13. Question 5 Australia’s economy is best described as • Command • Traditional • Market • A confederation

14. Question 6 Who represents the monarch of the United Kingdom in Australia? • Prime Minister • Australian Parliament • High Court of Australia • Governor-general

15. Question 7 The economy of Australia depends most heavily on • Oil exports • Subsistence farming • Electronics manufacturing • Tourism

16. Question 8 Australia’s economy encourages • Entrepreneurship • Natural resources • Parliamentary democracy • Constitutional confederation