Citizenship test glossary: 73 words from Our Common Bond
Plain English meanings of the words the guide uses, written by us. Each one has its page in Our Common Bond and the Part where the idea is taught.
Definitions in our own words, not the guide's. The guide has its own glossary on book pages 40 to 43. The test is in English; Home Affairs publishes the guide in 40 languages if you want to check a word in yours.
A
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Australia's first peoples: Aboriginal people from the mainland and Tasmania, and Torres Strait Islander people from the islands of the Torres Strait.
- Acknowledgement of Country
A short statement, which anyone may give, that recognises the land where people meet as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander land and shows respect.
- Administrator
The person the Governor-General appoints in the Northern Territory, with a role like a state Governor.
- Anzac
Short for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the soldiers who landed at Gallipoli in 1915.
- Australian Electoral Commission
The independent Commonwealth agency that runs federal elections and referendums and keeps the electoral roll.
- Australian Human Rights Commission
An independent body that looks into complaints about discrimination, racism and breaches of human rights.
- Australian Public Service
The departments of the Australian Government and the people who work in them.
B
- Bill
A proposal for a new law, or for a change to a law, put to Parliament.
C
- Cabinet
The ministers with the most important portfolios, who make the government's key decisions.
- Chief Minister
The leader of a territory government.
- civil unrest
When large crowds protest or riot, often against something a government has done.
- coalition
Two or more political parties that join together, usually to form the government or the opposition.
- commission
A group of people given a special job to do by law or by the government.
- Constitution
Australia's highest law; it sets the basic rules, and the government must follow it.
- constitutional monarchy
A country whose head of state is a king or queen, but the Constitution limits what they can do.
- court
A place where a judge or magistrate hears legal cases and decides them.
- criminal trial
A court hearing that looks at the facts to decide whether a person is guilty of a crime.
- cyber abuse
Using phones, the internet or other technology to threaten, scare, harass or shame someone in order to hurt them.
D
- democracy
A system where the people govern by choosing representatives in elections.
- domestic and family violence
Threats or acts used to control a partner by making them afraid or putting them in danger; it is against the law.
- double majority
What a referendum needs to pass: most voters in the whole nation and most voters in most states must say yes.
- drug trafficking
Moving or buying illegal drugs in order to sell them.
- dual citizenship
Being a citizen of Australia and of another country at once, when the other country's laws allow it.
E
- election
A vote where citizens choose the people who will represent them in Parliament.
- electoral roll
The list of everyone who is enrolled to vote in elections and referendums.
- electorate
An area of voters who elect one member of the House of Representatives; also called a division or a seat.
- enforce the law
To make sure people obey the law.
- equality
Having the same standing as everyone else.
- executive power
The power to carry out the laws and put them into practice; one of the three powers in the Constitution.
F
- fair go
The idea that every person, whatever their background, gets an equal chance to do well in life.
- federation
Separate colonies joining into one nation while each keeps some of its own powers.
- First Fleet
The 11 ships led by Captain Arthur Phillip that sailed from Britain to start a convict colony in New South Wales.
- floral emblem
A flower chosen as a symbol; Australia's is the golden wattle.
- forced marriage
A marriage in which one or both people were not free to choose; it is against the law in Australia.
- from this time forward
Starting now and continuing into the future.
G
- Governor-General
The King's representative in Australia, who stays neutral and signs Bills into law.
H
- Head of State
The top position in the nation; in Australia it is the King of Australia, who has no day-to-day role in government.
- House of Representatives
One of the two Houses of the Australian Parliament, also called the Lower House; each member represents one electorate.
I
- icon
A famous image or place that people know well.
- independents
Members of parliament who do not belong to any political party.
- Indigenous
A word for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, or either of them.
- integration
How migrants adapt over time so they can take part in, and add to, life in their new country.
J
- judicial power
The power to explain what the laws mean and apply them to cases; one of the three powers in the Constitution.
- jury
A group of ordinary citizens who listen to the evidence in some court cases and decide whether the person is guilty.
L
- legislative power
The power to make new laws and change existing ones; one of the three powers in the Constitution.
- liberties (liberty)
Freedoms a person has, such as the freedom to speak, believe and meet with others.
- local council
The local government of a city, shire, town or municipality, which plans and delivers local services.
M
- magistrate
A judge who works in a lower court.
- mateship
Helping other people, and accepting their help, most of all when times are hard.
N
- national anthem
The song of a nation; Australia's is 'Advance Australia Fair'.
O
- Opposition
The party or coalition with the second most members in the House of Representatives after a federal election.
P
- parliamentary democracy
A system of government where citizens regularly elect representatives to a parliament.
- political party
A group of people with shared ideas about how the country should be run, who usually try to win elections.
- Premier
The leader of a state government.
- Prime Minister
The leader of the Australian Government.
R
- racism
Treating someone badly, or hating them, because of their race, colour, or national or ethnic origin.
- referendum
A vote of all voters on whether to change the Australian Constitution.
- representative
Someone who speaks or acts for other people.
- respect
Treating a person, and the choices they make, with care and consideration.
- Royal Assent
The Governor-General signing a Bill passed by Parliament, which makes it a law.
- Rule of Law
The principle that everyone, including citizens and the government, must follow the law.
S
- secret ballot
Voting in private, so nobody can see your vote or push you to vote a certain way.
- secular
Not tied to any religion.
- self-sufficient
Able to look after your own needs without relying on others.
- Senate
The other House of the Australian Parliament, also called the Upper House; every state has the same number of senators.
- Services Australia
An Australian Government agency that pays health, social and welfare support through Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support.
- set up
To start, build or create something.
- shire
An area that has its own local government.
T
- The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
The Australian Government agency that runs the tax and superannuation systems.
V
- values
Beliefs about right and wrong that guide how a person behaves.
- volunteer
Someone who gives their time to help a person or an organisation without being paid.
W
- Welcome to Country
A custom that usually opens an event: a local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander custodian welcomes visitors to their traditional land.
Now practise
See the words in use in our study guide and the sample questions, or take the free practice test.
Based on Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond (testable section), © Commonwealth of Australia 2020, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0). Changes made: our own questions and summaries.
Payments from the government to support people who need help, such as unemployed, disabled or older people.
Our Common Bond, page 43 · Part 3: Government and the law