Intro -- Contents -- Figures and tables -- Preface -- 1 Democracy and Liberalism in Australia -- Issue in focus: How well do Australia's political institutions realise liberal democratic values? -- 2 The Australian Constitution -- Issue in focus: Should Australia adopt a bill of rights? -- 3 Federalism -- Issue in focus: Is Australian federalism in need of reform? -- 4 The Legislature -- Issue in focus: Is the Senate undemocratic? -- 5 Running the State: Executive Power -- Issue in focus: How can we keep the political executive accountable? -- 6 The Public Service: Making and Implementing Policy -- Issue in focus: Has the Commonwealth bureaucracy been politicised? -- 7 The High Court -- Issue in focus: How should High Court justices interpret the law? -- 8 The Electoral System -- Issue in focus: Should proportional voting be used for electing the House of Representatives? -- 9 Australian Political Parties and the Party System -- Issue in focus: Is the cartelisation thesis capable of explaining developments occurring within Australia's major parties? -- 10 The Australian Labor Party -- Issue in focus: What does the Labor Party stand for today? -- 11 The Liberal Party -- Issue in focus: What does the Liberal Party stand for today? -- 12 Minor Parties in Australia -- Issue in focus: Minor parties: scourge or saviour? -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index
Summary
This book introduces the dynamics of the Australian political system. It sets out the key concepts and institutions of democratic politics and demonstrates how the actors and institutions of Australian politics interact and develop
Analysis
Australian
Australian Public Service
Bill of Rights
Electoral systems
Constitution
Federalism
Electoral Systems
Executive government
Parliament
High Court of Australia
Policy process
Political parties, Australian
Notes
First ed. published in 2010
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-287) and index
