Created especially for the Australian customer! Understand the Australian political system and make your votecountGet to grips with the good, the bad and the ugly of Australianpolitics! Whether you're a seasoned political punter or a votingnovice, this is your essential guide to understanding politics inAustralia. Master the ins and outs of elections, parties andpolicies, and learn to discuss the big issues in no time. You haveto vote — now learn whyand how.Decipher political terminology — clear explanations of thehouses of parliament, voting systems and moreLearn how Australia's political system evolved — howWestminster and Washington were combined to produce'Washminster'Appreciate parliamentary roles — what the Whips do andjust what the Usher of the Black Rod isFind out who holds the purse strings — how federal andstate governments work out who pays for whatUnderstand how political parties work — the differencesbetween Labor and Liberal, and what coalition politics isDiscover what's meant by the balance of power — how minorparties and independents contribute to politicsDetermine how your vote is counted — the differencebetween preferential voting and proportional representationWork out the media's role — how the media reports,interprets and sways political outcomesOpen the book and find:Key points about past and current political hot topicsExplanations of the Australian Constitution, including thecrisis of 1975Plans of the houses of parliament so you know who sits whereAnalysis of how the major Australian political parties cameaboutA concise description of the electoral pendulumGraphic descriptions of the different ballot papersA comprehensive glossary of political terms and jargonLearn to:Identify what makes the Australianpolitical system tickDistinguish between the differentpolitical partiesUnderstand the influence of the media in Australian politicsCast your vote with confidence.