Key Elements of Representative Government

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Key Elements of Representative Government

For democratic decision-making to function effectively, there are

specific elements that are outlined in the key elements of

representative government. These include:

* The rule of law

* Universal franchise and regular elections

* One vote one value and secret ballot

* Payment of members of parliament

* Parliamentary privilege

* Rights to protest, association and political expression

* Open parliamentary debates

* Separation of powers

The rule of law states that citizens must have equal standing before

the law, to stand for election and to vote. There must also be strict

rules regulating the electoral process and all government action must

be taken in accordance with the law.

Universal franchise and regular elections means that every eligible

adult must have the right to vote regardless of their sex, race,

cultural background and religious or personal beliefs. It is also

important that the representatives are held accountable to the voters

at regular elections. This ensures that the people can have their say

at regular intervals and if they do not want a certain government to

hold power then they have the right to elect a new government.

One vote one value and secret ballot means that each vote must have

equal value of others and should be conducted in privacy to prevent

intimidation or corruption.

To allow all members of the community to participate in democracy, all

politicians must be paid. If political members were not paid, then

only wealthy people would be able to stand for parliament, thus only

the wealthy would be represented....

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...rms.

* The commonwealth is prohibited to make laws about religion.

The states are given the residual power residing in the constitution.

This means that the states are allowed to make laws in the subject

areas not formally written in the constitution. Theses areas include:

* Civil and criminal law

* Environment

* Women and children

* Public health, education and housing

Many of the heads of power are concurrent with the states. This means

that both the commonwealth and the states can make laws on them. The

inconsistency rule was included to deal with the possibility of

differing federal and state law.

Section 109 states;

When a law of a state is inconsistent with a law of commonwealth, the

latter shall prevail, and former shall, to the extent of the

inconsistency, be invalid.

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