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'Several important principles ensure that the Australian parliamentary system is democratic - VCE - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 2 - 2007 - Paper 1
Question 2
'Several important principles ensure that the Australian parliamentary system is democratic. One of these is the principle of responsible government.' Explain the pr... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:'Several important principles ensure that the Australian parliamentary system is democratic - VCE - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 2 - 2007 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain the principle of responsible government.
Answer
Responsible government refers to the accountability of the government to the parliament and the people. This principle requires that the government must answer questions and address concerns raised by parliament and the electorate.
Governments must be responsible for their actions and decisions, particularly in response to inquiries by parliament. This includes answering questions related to their policies and bureaucratic procedures.
Moreover, individual ministers are required to be accountable for the activities and decisions made within their respective departments. If the government loses the confidence of the parliament—due to poor performance or failure to uphold obligations—it is obliged to resign.