Ruqayyah Snyder
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament or the Parliament of the Commonwealth, is the federal legislature of Australia. It consists of three elements: the monarch of Australia, represented by the governor-general, the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house). The composition and powers of the House of Representatives are outlined in Chapter I of the Constitution of Australia, while the Senate consists of 76 members, with 12 senators representing each state and 2 senators representing each of the self-governing territories. The Parliament of Australia combines elements from the British Westminster system, in which the party with a majority in the lower house forms the government, and the United States Congress, which provides equal representation to each state and scrutinises legislation before it becomes law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of members in the House of Representatives | 151 |
| Number of members in the Senate (upper house) | 76 |
| Composition of the Senate | 12 members from each state, 2 members from each of the self-governing territories |
| Term of members of the House of Representatives | Maximum of three years |
| Age of eligibility to vote | 18 |
| Year of the introduction of compulsory voting | 1925 |
| Year of the creation of the Parliament House Construction Authority | 1978 |
| Year of the introduction of armed personnel in the Federal Parliament | 2015 |
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What You'll Learn
The three elements of Parliament
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament, is made up of three elements: the monarch, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
The monarch of Australia, Queen Elizabeth II, is represented by the governor-general, who is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. The governor-general exercises the monarch's powers, including sharing law-making powers with the Senate and the House of Representatives. A bill must be agreed upon by a majority vote in both houses and receive royal assent from the governor-general to become a law.
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament, consisting of 76 members. Each state is represented by 12 senators, while the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory have two senators each. Senators are elected using a proportional system, resulting in a diverse range of parties within the chamber. The Senate scrutinises the work of the government, including examining how taxpayer money is spent and questioning the government during Question Time.
The House of Representatives, also known as the lower house, consists of 151 members, with each state guaranteed at least five seats. The House of Representatives follows the Westminster system, where the party or coalition with a majority forms the government, and its leader becomes the prime minister. Members of Parliament are elected to represent the interests of Australians and consider how bills and decisions will impact them. The House of Representatives is known for its rowdiness, with MPs often exchanging colourful insults.
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The House of Representatives
The Australian Parliament is composed of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is sometimes referred to as the 'lower house' and is one of the two key parts of Australia's Commonwealth Parliament. It plays a crucial role in passing laws and governing the country. The number of members in the House of Representatives is variable, but it must be twice the number of senators. Currently, there are 151 members, each representing an individual electoral division. This is in contrast to the Senate, where senators represent entire states or territories. The minimum number of members is guaranteed by the Constitution, which ensures that each original state has at least five members, with members added for new states. The most recent expansion of the House was in 2019, when an additional seat was allocated to the Australian Capital Territory.
The members of the House of Representatives are elected by the people, and they are responsible for representing their local communities and bringing their concerns to the national level. They are elected for a term of up to three years, although the House can be dissolved earlier by the Governor-General in certain circumstances. The voting method used is preferential voting, also known as 'instant-runoff' voting, where voters rank candidates in order of preference. To win a seat, a candidate must receive more than half of the total votes after preferences have been distributed. This system helps ensure that members have a strong level of support from their constituents.
Another important aspect of the House of Representatives is its role in forming government. The party or coalition with the majority of seats in the House is invited by the Governor-General to form government, and the leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister. This is a key feature of the Westminster system of government, of which Australia is a part. The House of Representatives is a dynamic and vital part of Australia's parliamentary system, providing a link between the people and the government and helping to ensure that laws are made and amended in the best interests of the country and its citizens.
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The role of the Senate
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament or the Parliament of the Commonwealth, is made up of three elements: the monarch of Australia, the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house).
The Senate plays a crucial role in the Australian Parliament. It is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament, consisting of 76 members who are elected using a proportional representation system. This results in a diverse chamber with a multitude of parties vying for power. The Senate includes 12 senators from each state and two senators from each of the self-governing territories, namely the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
One of the primary roles of the Senate is law-making. Senators spend a significant portion of their time considering bills, which are proposals for new laws. For a bill to become a law, it must be agreed upon by a majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This process is known as passing a bill. The Senate scrutinises bills in detail through committees and hearings. They also question the government during daily Question Time in the Senate. This scrutiny ensures that the laws passed are in the best interests of the people of Australia.
In addition to law-making, the Senate plays a crucial role in overseeing the work of the government. They do this by setting up committees to investigate the government's actions and spending, particularly during Senate estimates hearings. The Senate also has the power to summon people to attend hearings and give evidence, similar to parliamentary committees. This oversight role helps ensure that the government remains accountable to the people and acts in the nation's best interests.
The Senate also has a role in representing the views and interests of Australians. Each senator represents their state or territory, and they are elected using a proportional representation system, allowing for a diverse range of voices to be heard. Senators are expected to consider how bills and decisions made by Parliament will impact their constituents and advocate for their needs and preferences.
The upper house, or the Senate, is an essential component of the Australian Parliament, providing a check and balance on the power of the lower house and the executive branch of the government. It ensures that the laws passed are carefully considered and in line with the needs and interests of the Australian people.
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How members are elected
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament or the Parliament of the Commonwealth, is made up of three elements: the monarch of Australia (represented by the governor-general), the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house).
The House of Representatives is made up of single-member electorates with populations of roughly equal size. Each state is allocated seats based on its population, with each original state guaranteed at least five seats. There are currently 151 members of the House of Representatives, representing 150 electorates in Australia. Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to represent the views and interests of Australians. They do this by considering how bills and decisions of Parliament will affect their constituents.
The Senate, on the other hand, consists of 76 members: 12 senators from each state and two senators each from the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. Senators are elected using a proportional system, resulting in a diverse range of parties competing for power.
Elections for members of the House of Representatives have been held concurrently with those for the Senate since the 1970s. The term of members of the House of Representatives is a maximum of three years, although it is uncommon for the full term to be completed. The House is typically dissolved earlier, either alone or in a double dissolution with the Senate.
Voting in Australia is compulsory, and since 1973, citizens have been eligible to vote from the age of 18.
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The process of lawmaking
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament, is the federal legislature of Australia. It consists of three elements: the monarch of Australia, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
- Proposal and Debate: Senators and Members of the House of Representatives propose new laws in the form of bills. These bills are debated in Parliament, with each side presenting their arguments and perspectives.
- Voting: After the debate, a vote is held in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. A bill must receive a majority vote in both houses to proceed.
- Royal Assent: If a bill passes in both houses, it is then presented to the monarch of Australia, who is represented by the governor-general. The governor-general provides royal assent, which is required for the bill to become an act and part of the law. This step formalizes the bill's passage into law.
- Implementation: Once a bill becomes law, it is the responsibility of the government to implement and enforce it. The government ensures that the laws passed by Parliament are carried out and applied across Australia.
It is worth noting that the Parliament also plays a role in scrutinizing and overseeing the work of the government. This includes setting up committees to investigate bills in detail, examining how taxpayer money is spent, and questioning the government during Senate estimates hearings and Question Time in the Senate and House.
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Frequently asked questions
The Parliament of Australia is made up of the monarch of Australia (represented by the governor-general), the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house).
The Parliament of Australia makes laws for the country, which are then put into action by the government. The government also represents Australia internationally.
The House of Representatives is made up of single-member electorates with a population of roughly equal size. The party or coalition of parties with a majority in this House forms the government, with the leader of that party or coalition becoming the prime minister.
The Senate consists of 76 members: 12 for each state, and two for each of the self-governing territories. Senators are elected using the proportional system, resulting in a diverse range of parties within the chamber.
A bill, or proposal for a new law, must be agreed upon by a majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It then requires Royal Assent from the Governor-General to become an official act and part of the law.
