Australia and Indonesia Political System Comparison

Type of Government

Australia has a mixed system of government: it is a constitutional monarchy and a representative democracy. A constitutional monarchy is bicameral; meaning it upholds two houses. The two houses within the constitutional monarchy are the house of representatives and the senate.

Parliamentary System

Australia’s parliamentary system can be broken down into smaller divisions, where each area accommodates for different things. The federal parliament represents the people if Australia and aim to represent peoples views and interests. 151 MP's are elected to the lower house: the House of Representatives. The members of the upper house consist of the senate and they represent views and interests of each state/territory.

Constitution

A constitution is a set of rules that guides the country, state or political organization abides by. It informs us about the branches of government, the powers they obtain and the way they operate. Australia’s constitution was established and put into action on the first on January 1901. The purpose of the Australian Constitution is to exhibit the composition of the Australian parliament, describing how parliament works and the power it has. It also outlines how the state and federal parliaments share power, and the roles of the executive government and the high court of Australia.

Government Formation

The party that achieves the highest number of seats in the lower house forms the government. Although the government is formed in the House of Representatives, both the government and opposition have party members elected to the senate. The government then manages all national issues including things like trade, immigration or the environment. Laws passed through to parliament are put into action by the government and the government also represents Australia internationally.

Political Parties

Political parties are an organization that represents a particular group of people or a general set of ideas. The parties aim to have members elected to parliament; hence their ideas can affect the way Australia is governed. The purpose of political parties helps to choose party candidates for local state and federal elections, and they assist with election campaigns and also count votes. Political parties can be further broken down into minor parties where the parties only obtain a small number of members that are elected to parliament. Minor parties help to maintain the balance of power, meaning their vote can distinguish and decide the outcome of an issue if the opposition and government disagree. Political parties have meetings which are held in their party room. The main purpose of those meetings are to decide the party will work as a team in parliament. Some examples of political parties are the Liberal party, Labor Party, Greens, Family First…

Role of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Cabinet:

The cabinets roll is to fulfill government policy and influence decisions revolving around national issues. Cabinet ministers spend much of their time dealing with national problems and aim to resolves those issues. In cabinet meetings the ministers will present bills and proposed laws that are declared by government departments.

Prime minister:

The prime minister is the most powerful individual in the Australian parliament, as they uphold multiple tasks, including, chairing meetings in which the government examines bills and discusses policies.

Levels of Government

Australia has three levels of government; local, state and federal. Each level of government can be further broken down and each level accommodates for different things. Local government maintains the delievery and range of services including infrastrcutre revolving in local areas (gardens, parks...). State government includes things like schools, hostpitals, railways and also accomodates for some family matters. The federal government endures in internation trade ad the National Defense force etc.

Legislative Processes

1. People have ideas about what the law should do. This includes every topic

2. The idea has been written in the form of a bill, and if passed the bill becomes a part of law

3. When it is first presented to one of the houses of parliament , the bill goes through the first reading, which means that the title of the bill is announced.

4. All MP’s receive a copy of the bill and can debate it. This is known as the second reading.

5. In the other house the same three readings take place

6. The final stage is the third reading, where the bill is voted on. If it passes then it goes to the other house

7. The bill has to be passed by majority of the members in each house. When both houses have agreed to it, it goes to the governor.

8. When the governor, as a representative of the queen, signs it, then it officially becomes an act (law).

9. The act now becomes a law from a set date.

Indonesia's Type of Government

Indonesia's system of government consists of a constitutional republic which means that the people vote for their representatives, however there are rules in the constitution that limits the power of each officeholder Their government is characterized by the President of Australia being both the head of state and head of government in a multi-party system.

Indonesia's Constitution

Indonesia’s constitution was written in June, July and August of 1945, when Indonesia was overcoming Japanese control at the end of World War II. It provides for a limited separation of executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The 1945 constitution emerged the Pancasila which is the official foundational philosophical theory of Indonesia. Indonesia’s constitution amplifies that Indonesians shall protect the whole people of Indonesia and their land.

Government formation

Indonesia is the third largest democracy and their elections are conducted on a huge scale. Voting is not compulsory, however the people elected are decided through the votes they receive. Their election is held every five years and as their government is in the form of a republic, their representatives rule the people. The government is formed through popularity, meaning that their president is formed through who receives the majority of votes. The president who is elected then forms the rest of the government as the party is now in charge. The other parties still remain however there is only one president.

Parliamentary System

Indonesia’s political system was formed after the 1945 constitution and five years after independence Indonesia followed a system of federal government under the 'United Republic of Indonesia' for seven months. Indonesia's highest political institution is an elected People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which convenes every 5 years to approve the broad outlines of state policy.

Political Parties

Indonesia has political parties but the impact and role of the parties is different to Australia’s. In Indonesia the parties have seats to fill but instead of the parties being a group and mainly working as a whole, there are presidents elected where they rule over every body else. Some examples of political parties in Indonesia are:

- Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan, PDI–P)

- Great Indonesia Movement Party (Partai Gerakan Indonesia Raya, Gerindra)

- Golkar (Partai Golongan Karya)

Role of Prime minister and Cabinet

President: Indonesia does not have a prime minister but instead they have a president. The current president is Joko Widodo and he is the head of government and the head of the Republic of Indonesia. The president leads the administrate branch of the Indonesian government and is the commander-chief of the Indonesian National armed forces, as well as upholding other significant presidential roles.

Cabinet: there are two types of cabinets that were present in Indonesia which consist of a presidential and parliamentary cabinet. In presidential cabinet they are required to maintain responsibility for government policy and fulfil their role within the government. Parliamentary cabinets carries out government policies and is responsible to the legislature.

Levels of government

Just like Australia, Indonesia has three levels of government; the Executive branch, Legislative branch and Judicial branch. The executive branch is headed by a president and has a vice-president and a cabinet. The Legislative branch is composed of two houses The DPR, which is commonly known as the Peoples Representative Council, and the DPD which is widely known as Regional Representative Council. The judicial branch is the general court where authority is given over general criminal or civil matters for the members of society, this includes family law etc.

Legislative processes

The Indonesian House of Representatives endorse enough power to make laws. All bills are deliberated by the by the house, including the president until there is approval from all members. When the bills are not signed late (thirty days) after they are approved and forwarded to the president, the bills are then automatically laws.

Similarities

1. Government formation: Indonesia and Australia both elect their head of government through voting. There are some underlying differences of how the voting occurs and the voting processes, however they elect their representatives through a very similar manner.

2. Levels of government: each government upholds 3 levels which all accommodate for different things. The Judicial branch and Australia’s state government share similarities as they both uphold responsibilities for all matters that fall under the section of family law.

3. Legal age to vote: The legal age to vote in Indonesia is 17, although some acceptations can be applied in different circumstances. In Australia the legal voting age is 18 where it becomes compulsory to vote.

Differences

1. Indonesia is a republic and Australia is a constitutional monarchy: constitutional monarchy’s still have a king or queen; however, all of the governing’s power rests in the legislate. Usually the head of the government will be the prime minister who is under the king or queen. In a republic the head is elected through popularity and votes and then possesses power to govern.

2. Prime Minister and President: Presidents are the head of state of a country that is a republic, mainly only applying to countries that uphold a republic. A prime minister is the head of government of a country that is within a constitutional monarchy as the king or queen is higher on the hierarchy.

3. Voting: Within Indonesia it is not compulsory to vote, meaning that not everyone is required to vote. Nevertheless, Australia opposes Indonesia’s voting system and all Australian’s have to vote in elections. Fines can be distributed if an individual doesn’t vote.

Threats

Threats to democracy:

Australia:

1. Discrimination:

In Australia we aspire to be inclusive and supportive of one another within society and through our countries democratic system of governing, changes have been made due to discrimination. It was only in the 1960s where Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote in elections and were included in Census. Although this happened in the past it is still a major issue today and it is presented all over the media. Australia’s democratic values have been tested and threatened as everyone had to stand up and make a change, which even included voting.

Indonesia:

1. Religious Beliefs:

In Indonesia the most prominent religion is Muslim at around 87% of Indonesians. Believing in other religions is not something to be ‘proud’ of as it is highly tabooed and seen as ‘wrong’. Public preaching of other religions is almost considered a crime and laws had to be put in place. This is not a democratic thing and threatens Indonesia’s democracy as other religion rates grow in Indonesia.

Safeguards

Australia:

1. Voting system:

Within Australia our voting system is very inclusive, and it ensures that every voice is heard. It is compulsory to vote which means that all Australians are entitled to vote. This is a safeguard to democracy as every national decision or law goes through everyone. If majority of people disagree then the law will not be passed however if the law receives majority of votes for the cause, then the law is passed.

Indonesia:

1. Areas of their Constitution:

Indonesians have many human rights which are presented in their 1945 constitution. Several human rights are guaranteed especially as a result of constitutional amendments following the reform era. To maintain their democratic society they are granted many rights.