State Government
SOSE Legal Studies Aust. Studies English

Internet Assignment: Levels of Government – STATE GOVERNMENT

Aims:

  • To use online resources to find out about the structure of the South Australian state Government.

  • To look at how Parliament works and how laws are made.

  • To learn about political parties in South Australia & the people who represent us as State Members of Parliament.

  • To investigate voting systems in South Australia, with particular reference to the last State election.

  • To find out about some of the non-parliamentary officers of government ie the Governor, Ombudsman.

Background Skills:

  • During the first couple of lessons we will just look at the Parliament of SA site to familiarise ourselves with navigation.
  • It is assumed that when we start the major part all students can logon to the network, use the browser to get online, either type in the URL for the site or navigate through the website to the Civics page where the links are already set up.
  • To get there:
  • The ability to cut and paste from the browser to Word will save a lot of time.

The South Australian Parliament

After the preliminary look through the Parliament, use it to answer the following questions. For each question also record the URL of the page you used to get your answer.

1.      Name the two Houses of Parliament in South Australia and write 6-8 facts about each House.

2.      Go to the page entitled Government of South Australia at: http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/about/1_2_1_system2.shtm

a)     How is a government formed?

b)     What is a Minister and what jobs do they do?

c)      What is the Cabinet?

3.      Explain how a bill is passed through the SA Parliament and becomes law (at least 10-12 points).

4.      What is Hansard? Go to: http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/about/1_3_1_proceedings8.shtm to find out and write 3-4 points.

5.      Go to the Members section. http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/members/7_members.shtm Find out who are the Members of Parliament for our local electorates: Florey, Newland & Wright. Which parties do they each represent. Select your local representative and find his/her profile. Write 6-8 points about him/her.

6.      How many members does each major Party have in the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council?

7.      What are the minor Parties in each House? How many members do they have in each House?

8.      Who are the following Ministers: Local Government, Youth, Education, Police. List their portfolio names (the areas of responsibility they have including the one you were looking for). http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/members/ministers.shtm

9.      The Governor of South Australia – go to: http://www.governor.sa.gov.au/ Who is our Governor? Where does the Governor’s authority come from? What is the Governor’s role?

10. The Ombudsman – go to: http://www.ombudsman.sa.gov.au/

a)     Who is the Ombudsman?

b)     What is the role of the Ombudsman is South Australia?

11. Your local electorate – go to: http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/ Identify your local electorate from the list (or use Wright or Florey or Newland).

a)     Describe the electorate – copy or draw the map.

b)     How was the electorate named?

c)      How many people were on the Electoral Roll in the 1997 elections?

d)     Who were the candidates – which parties did they represent?

 

12. Emblems & Insignia of the SA Government – go to: http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/emblems/emblems1.htm

1.      The State Flag of SA – go to: http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/emblems/flag.htm

a.      Describe the State Flag

b.      Copy it into your answer

c.      What are the official colours?

2.      The State Badge of SA – go to: http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/emblems/shrike.htm

a.      Describe the State Badge

b.      Copy it into your answer

c.      What is the significance of the Piping Shrike?

3.      The State Coat of Arms – go to: http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/emblems/coatarms.htm

a.      Describe the State Coat of Arms

b.      Copy it into your answer

4.      Explain the significance to South Australia of Sturt’s Desert Pea, the Hairy Nosed Wombat and the Opal

If you have time, visit the SA Central site at:

http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/