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Australian Citizenship Test

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Australian Citizenship Test questions and answers

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  1. 51.What does an MP represent?

    • AA political party only
    • BThe people in their electorate
    • CA local council area
    • DA whole state or territory

    Australia is divided into federal electorates, and Members of Parliament represent the people in their electorate. (The House of Representatives)

  2. 52.What is the role of the House of Representatives?

    • ATo collect taxes on behalf of the Commonwealth
    • BTo consider, debate and vote on proposals for new laws
    • CTo appoint the Governor-General and the state governors
    • DTo interpret the Australian Constitution and apply it

    The role of the House of Representatives is to consider, debate and vote on proposals for new laws or changes to the laws, and to discuss matters of national importance. (The House of Representatives)

  3. 53.What are the other names for the Senate?

    • AThe Lower House, or the People’s House
    • BThe Cabinet, or the Executive of the government
    • CThe House of Commons, or the House of Lords
    • DThe Upper House, the House of Review or the States’ House

    The Senate is sometimes called the Upper House, the House of Review or the States' House. (The Senate)

  4. 54.How many senators are there in the Australian Parliament?

    • A12
    • B150
    • C96
    • D76

    There is a total of 76 senators. (The Senate)

  5. 55.How many senators does each state elect?

    • A76
    • B6
    • C12
    • D2

    Each state elects 12 senators. (The Senate)

  6. 56.How many senators do the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory each elect?

    • ANone
    • BTwelve
    • CTwo
    • DSix

    The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory elect two senators each. (The Senate)

  7. 57.How are the states represented in the Senate?

    • AAll states are equally represented regardless of size or population
    • BIn proportion to the population of each state
    • COnly the four largest states send senators
    • DIn proportion to the land area of each state

    All states are equally represented in the Senate regardless of their size or population. (The Senate)

  8. 58.What does each Australian state government have of its own?

    • AIts own High Court
    • BIts own parliament and constitution
    • CIts own head of state
    • DIts own currency and defence force

    Each state government has its own parliament and constitution. (State, territory and local government)

  9. 59.Who is appointed by the Governor-General in the Northern Territory?

    • AAn Administrator
    • BA Chief Justice
    • CA Governor
    • DA Premier

    In the Northern Territory an Administrator is appointed by the Governor-General. (State, territory and local government)

  10. 60.What is the difference between the states and the territories?

    • AStates are governed directly by the Commonwealth
    • BStates have rights recognised by the Constitution while territories do not
    • CTerritories elect more senators than the states do
    • DTerritories hold more power to pass laws than states

    States have rights recognised by the Constitution while territories do not. (State, territory and local government)

  11. 61.What can happen to a self-governing territory’s laws?

    • AThey can be changed only by a national referendum
    • BThey cannot be changed at all once they are passed
    • CThey can be changed only by the High Court of Australia
    • DThey can be altered or revoked by the Australian Government at any time

    Self-governing territory laws can be altered or revoked by the Australian Government at any time. (State, territory and local government)

  12. 62.What might a local government area be called?

    • AA state or territory
    • BAn electorate or a division
    • CA city, shire, town or municipality
    • DA ward or a riding

    In each state a Governor represents the King of Australia. (State, territory and local government)

  13. 63.What are local councils responsible for?

    • APlanning and delivering services to their local community
    • BDefence, foreign affairs and national economic policy
    • CHospitals, health services and government schools
    • DImmigration, citizenship and the granting of visas

    Councils are responsible for planning and delivering services to their local community. (State, territory and local government)

  14. 64.Which level of government is responsible for immigration and citizenship?

    • ALocal governments
    • BThe Australian Government
    • CThe High Court
    • DState and territory governments

    The Australian Government is responsible for taxation and national economic management. (What the three levels of government do)

  15. 65.Which level of government is responsible for defence?

    • ALocal governments
    • BThe Governor-General
    • CThe Australian Government
    • DState and territory governments

    The Australian Government is responsible for taxation and national economic management. (What the three levels of government do)

  16. 66.Which level of government is responsible for schools?

    • ASchool boards alone
    • BThe Australian Government
    • CState and territory governments
    • DLocal governments

    State and territory governments are primarily responsible for hospitals and health services. (What the three levels of government do)

  17. 67.Which level of government is responsible for hospitals and health services?

    • APrivate providers alone
    • BLocal governments
    • CThe Australian Government
    • DState and territory governments

    State and territory governments are primarily responsible for hospitals and health services. (What the three levels of government do)

  18. 68.Which level of government is responsible for police and ambulance services?

    • AThe Australian Government
    • BThe Australian Federal Police alone
    • CState and territory governments
    • DLocal governments

    State and territory governments are primarily responsible for hospitals and health services. (What the three levels of government do)

  19. 69.Which level of government is responsible for rubbish collection?

    • AState and territory governments
    • BThe Australian Government
    • CThe Department of Home Affairs
    • DLocal governments

    Local governments are responsible for rubbish collection. (What the three levels of government do)

  20. 70.Which level of government is responsible for libraries, halls and community centres?

    • ALocal governments
    • BThe Australian Electoral Commission
    • CThe Australian Government
    • DState and territory governments

    Local governments are responsible for rubbish collection. (What the three levels of government do)

  21. 71.Which level of government is responsible for social security payments?

    • AEach individual employer
    • BLocal governments
    • CState and territory governments
    • DThe Australian Government

    The Australian Government is responsible for taxation and national economic management. (What the three levels of government do)

  22. 72.Which level of government is responsible for building permits?

    • ALocal governments
    • BThe Australian Taxation Office
    • CThe Australian Government
    • DState and territory governments

    Local governments are responsible for rubbish collection. (What the three levels of government do)

  23. 73.Which level of government is responsible for foreign affairs?

    • AThe Governor-General
    • BState and territory governments
    • CThe Australian Government
    • DLocal governments

    The Australian Government is responsible for taxation and national economic management. (What the three levels of government do)

  24. 74.What is a political party?

    • AAn association representing Australia’s local councils
    • BA committee formed by the Australian Parliament
    • CA group of people appointed by the Governor-General
    • DA group of people who share similar ideas about how a country should be governed

    A political party is a group of people who share similar ideas about how a country should be governed. (Political parties and forming government)

  25. 75.Which of these is a main political party in Australia?

    • AThe Australian Labor Party
    • BThe Australian Democratic Union
    • CThe Commonwealth Party
    • DThe National Federation Party

    The main political parties in Australia are the Liberal Party of Australia, the Australian Labor Party, the Nationals and the Australian Greens. (Political parties and forming government)

  26. 76.What is a parliamentarian who belongs to no political party called?

    • AA crossbencher minister
    • BAn independent
    • CA senator-at-large
    • DA backbench delegate

    An area of government a minister is responsible for is called a portfolio. (Political parties and forming government)

  27. 77.Who generally forms government after a federal election?

    • AThe party holding a majority of seats in the Senate
    • BThe party chosen for the task by the Governor-General
    • CThe party with the largest number of registered members
    • DThe party or coalition with a majority in the House of Representatives

    The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the House of Representatives becomes the Prime Minister. (Political parties and forming government)

  28. 78.What is the party or coalition with the second largest number of members called?

    • AThe crossbench
    • BThe Senate bloc
    • CThe Opposition
    • DThe Cabinet

    The party or coalition with the second largest number of members in the House of Representatives forms the Opposition. (Political parties and forming government)

  29. 79.Who recommends who should become ministers?

    • AThe Senate
    • BThe Leader of the Opposition
    • CThe Governor-General
    • DThe Prime Minister

    The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the House of Representatives becomes the Prime Minister. (Political parties and forming government)

  30. 80.What is an area of government a minister is responsible for called?

    • AA department roll
    • BA commission
    • CAn electorate
    • DA portfolio

    An area of government a minister is responsible for is called a portfolio. (Political parties and forming government)

  31. 81.What is the key decision-making body of the Australian Government?

    • AThe Australian Electoral Commission
    • BThe Senate
    • CThe High Court
    • DThe Cabinet

    Ministers with the most important portfolios make up the Cabinet, which is the key decision making body of government. (Political parties and forming government)

  32. 82.What is a proposal for a new law called?

    • AA referendum
    • BAn Act
    • CA Bill
    • DA portfolio

    A proposal to introduce a new law or change an existing one is called a Bill. (How laws are made)

  33. 83.What must happen before a Bill goes to the Governor-General?

    • AThe Cabinet must vote on it unanimously
    • BThe High Court must approve it
    • CA referendum must be held
    • DA majority in each House of Parliament must agree to it

    If the majority of members in each House of Parliament agree to the Bill, it goes to the Governor-General. (How laws are made)

  34. 84.Who signs a Bill so that it becomes law?

    • AThe Governor-General
    • BThe Prime Minister
    • CThe Chief Justice
    • DThe Speaker of the House

    If the majority of members in each House of Parliament agree to the Bill, it goes to the Governor-General. (How laws are made)

  35. 85.How do state and territory parliaments make their own laws?

    • ABy approval of the Australian Parliament
    • BBy referendum in that state or territory
    • CBy decision of the state governor alone
    • DIn a similar way to the Australian Parliament

    If the majority of members in each House of Parliament agree to the Bill, it goes to the Governor-General. (How laws are made)

  36. 86.What is the role of the courts in Australia?

    • ATo decide if a person has broken the law and decide the penalty
    • BTo appoint the Governor-General and the state governors
    • CTo collect the taxes owed to the Commonwealth
    • DTo write the new laws that Parliament then approves

    A court will decide if a person has or has not broken the law and decide the penalty. (The courts, judges and juries)

  37. 87.On what may a court base its decision?

    • AOnly the evidence before it
    • BThe recommendation of the police
    • CThe opinion of the government
    • DPublic opinion polls

    Courts can only base their decision on the evidence before them. (The courts, judges and juries)

  38. 88.Who is the highest authority in an Australian court?

    • AThe senior police officer
    • BThe foreman of the jury
    • CThe Attorney-General
    • DThe judge or magistrate

    The judge or magistrate is the highest authority in a court. (The courts, judges and juries)

  39. 89.What can the government NOT do to a judge who rules against it?

    • ARequire them to give reasons to the Senate
    • BMove them to a different court against their wishes
    • COverturn their decision by an act of Cabinet
    • DTake their job away because it disagrees with their decision

    Judges and magistrates are appointed by the government, but the government cannot take their jobs away if it disagrees with their decisions. (The courts, judges and juries)

  40. 90.How are people regarded in Australia’s court system before a verdict?

    • AGuilty if the police have charged them
    • BNeither innocent nor guilty until sentencing
    • CInnocent until they are found guilty in a court
    • DGuilty until they prove otherwise

    In Australia people are considered innocent until they are found guilty in a court. (The courts, judges and juries)

  41. 91.How is a jury chosen?

    • ABy the judge from a shortlist
    • BRandomly from the general population
    • CBy the political parties
    • DBy the police from the electoral roll

    A jury is a group of ordinary Australian citizens randomly chosen from the general population. (The courts, judges and juries)

  42. 92.Who explains the law to a jury?

    • AThe judge
    • BThe Attorney-General
    • CThe lawyer for the defence
    • DThe police

    The judge or magistrate is the highest authority in a court. (The courts, judges and juries)

  43. 93.In a criminal trial, who decides the penalty if the jury finds a person guilty?

    • AThe jury
    • BThe judge
    • CThe police
    • DThe Attorney-General

    The judge or magistrate is the highest authority in a court. (The courts, judges and juries)

  44. 94.What right does every person have in an Australian court?

    • AThe right to be represented by a lawyer
    • BThe right to a retrial on request
    • CThe right to choose the judge
    • DThe right to refuse to attend

    Every person has the right to be represented by a lawyer in court. (The courts, judges and juries)

  45. 95.What is the job of the police in Australia?

    • ATo make the laws that they are responsible for enforcing
    • BTo set the penalties that apply to particular crimes
    • CTo decide whether a person charged is guilty or not
    • DTo maintain peace and order and protect life and property

    The police maintain peace and order in the community and protect life and property. (The police)

  46. 96.Which of these is true of Australia’s police forces?

    • AThey are directed by each state Premier
    • BThey are independent of the government
    • CThey report to the Prime Minister
    • DThey are controlled by the courts

    The police are independent of the government. (The police)

  47. 97.Who decides whether a person is guilty after the police give evidence?

    • AThe police
    • BThe Governor-General
    • CThe court
    • DThe Attorney-General

    The police may give evidence in court, but the court decides if a person is guilty or not. (The police)

  48. 98.What is Australia’s national police force called?

    • AThe National Police Service
    • BThe Australian Federal Police
    • CThe Commonwealth Constabulary
    • DThe Australian Security Police

    Australia has a national police force called the Australian Federal Police. (The police)

  49. 99.Which crimes does the Australian Federal Police investigate?

    • ACrimes against federal laws, for example drug trafficking
    • BEvery crime committed in each of the six states
    • COnly crimes committed by Australians while overseas
    • DOnly traffic offences on roads between the states

    The Australian Federal Police investigates crimes against federal laws such as drug trafficking, crimes against national security and crimes against the environment. (The police)

  50. 100.Which territory does the Australian Federal Police do general police work in?

    • ANorfolk Island
    • BChristmas Island
    • CThe Australian Capital Territory
    • DThe Northern Territory

    The Australian Federal Police is responsible for general police work in the Australian Capital Territory. (The police)

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