Table of Contents

Foreword Introduction Chapter 1 Understanding political ideas Chapter 2 Democracy and the role of the State Chapter 3 Australia's Constitution Chapter 4 Understanding Australian Federalism Chapter 5 Parliament and accountability Chapter 6 Executive Government and the Public Service Chapter 7 The judiciary Chapter 8 The theory and practice of voting Chapter 9 Progressive Political Parties Chapter 10 Conservative Political Parties Chapter 11 The importance of Business and Non-Government Organisations Chapter 12 The role of the Media in Politics Chapter 13 Citizenship Chapter 14 Australian Independence and Republicanism Conclusions

About the Author

Martin Drum and John Tate Martin Drum is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle. His primary research areas are public policy and Australian Politics. He teaches on a variety of areas, including Australian Politics, Politics and the Media, Public Policy and Practice, and Comparative Politics. He has worked in the public sector and is particularly interested in how governments can operate more effectively, and better deliver strong services and facilities. John Tate is Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Politics & International Relations in the Faculty of Business and Law, University of Newcastle. He was appointed the foundation lecturer in Politics at the University of Newcastle in 1997. His primary research interests are political philosophy and history of political thought. He has published in these areas in such journals as Political Studies, Political Theory, Philosophy and Social Criticism, Journal of European Studies, and Telos. He has also published on Australian politics in journals such as the Australian Journal of Politics and History.