Unit 2: Citizenship

Laws + Decision Making

Life Decisions
Throughout life we make many decisions, some of which are less in
important while others are very important. For example, you will
need to make decisions as to where you chose to live, what kind of
career you chose to follow, whether or not you decide to get married
or etc.
Every single decision made shapes our lives. Often we are not a
where of the consequences of making these decisions. These
decisions shape who we are as people because we follow through
with the decisions we make without even realizing it.
In making decisions we need 1. Realize the power of decisionmaking 2. Go with our gut decisions 3. Carry out our decisions 4. Tell
others about our decisions 5. Learn from our past decisions 6.
Maintain a flexible approach 7. Have fun making decisions.
List of Decisions a person make in their life
Job to chose (RD), where to live (RD), school to attend (SD), subject
selection (SD), sunscreen or not (RD), clothes to wear (SD), family or
not (RD), makeup or not (SD), what sports to play (SD), friends (SD),
university or not (RD), nail polish (SD), go out (RD), what to have for
lunch (SD), haircut (SD), who to sit with (SD), forgive or not (RD),
concentrate or not (RD), marry or not (SD), rent or buy (RD), shoes
to wear (SD), tattoo or not (SD), additional piercing (SD), movie too
watch (SD), where to sit in class (SD), breakfast (SD), dinner (SD),
what to buy (SD), where to holiday (RD), what car to buy (RD), what
hotel to stay at (RD), what career to study (RD), to move out of
home (RD), homework or not (RD), weekend activities (SD), what to
wear (SD), to get takeaway (SD), study (RD), go on computer (SD),
whether to do your Iona care (SD), recess food (SD), travel (RD),
paint house (SD), effort (RD), holiday (SD), food to buy (RD), part
time job (RD), pet (RD), colour to dye hair (SD), to donate (ND),
what friends to invite out (SD).
No Decision: Letting others decide what you will do.
Snap Decision: A quick choice you make with no consideration of the
result.
Responsible Decision: Considering others (not only me) and your
future (not only now) when you make the decision.
Individuals often find it hard to make the best decisions. It is
important to make the decision that is most likely to support your
health, safety and happiness and that of others.
Often the decisions made by adolescents made result in conflicts
with your parents particularly if you want to do things

independently. As individuals get older they are expected to take

more responsibility for their actions and the consequences of those
decisions. In many situations an individuals personal values will
influence their decision-making. Values are personal and change
over time.
Like individuals, groups also need to make decisions. Group
decisions involve give and take-negotiating a balance between
different points of view. Individuals need to active listeners and
show understanding to the feelings of others. All of the members of
the group need to reach a general consensus (agreement) on the
issue.

Government Decision Making

In Australia there are many laws regulating the decision making of
both individuals and groups. Governments are responsible for
introducing laws which effect our everyday lives. In Australia there
are 3 levels of government, Federal, State, Local. Each level of
government has the power to make decisions that can effect the
quality of our lives and each Federal government has its own
separate responsibilities e.g. federal = economy, taxation, aviation
and defence, State = crime, police, schools and hospitals, Local =
garbage, footy grounds, recycling and local events.
Federal Decision Makers
Australia has a democratic system of government. Everyone over
the age of 18 has the right to vote. Voting is compulsory. Australian
citizens chose the people they want to represent them at elections
every 3 years. Elected representatives make decisions. Australia has
a bicameral system of government. The lower house is known as the
House of Representatives and the Upper House is known as the
Senate. There are 150 members in the House of Representatives
and 76 members in the Senate, each representing an electorate
(area). After the election the political party with the most members

elected in the lower house forms the government. The winning party
selects a leader called the Prime Minister who in turn selects
ministers to head up various government departments. The policical
party with the 2nd highest numbers selected forms the opposition.
The leader of that party becomes the leader of the opposition. The
lower house is decorated in green.