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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 (upper house), and the House of Representatives (lower house). The upper house, or Senate, consists of 76 members, with equal representation from each state, while the lower house, or House of Representatives, is made up of single-member electorates with populations of roughly equal size. The party or coalition of parties with the majority in the lower house forms the government, with its leader becoming the prime minister.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of members in the House of Representatives | 151 |
| Number of Senators | 76 |
| Number of Senators for each state | 12 |
| Number of Senators for each self-governing territory | 2 |
| Age to have the right to vote | 18 |
| Year in which the federal parliament first possessed armed personnel | 2015 |
| Year in which the construction of the new Parliament House began | 1978 |
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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 key elements: the monarch, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
The first element is the monarch of Australia, who is currently King Charles III. The monarch is represented by the governor-general, who provides royal assent for bills to become law. This assent is typically expected to align with the democratically elected houses of Parliament, and assent has never been refused.
The second element is the Senate, which is the upper house of the Australian Parliament. The Senate consists of 76 members, with twelve senators representing each state and two senators representing each of the self-governing territories. Senators are elected using a proportional system, resulting in a diverse range of parties within the chamber. The Australian Senate shares similarities with the United States Senate, ensuring equal representation for each state regardless of population.
The third element is the House of Representatives, which is the lower house. This house is crucial in forming the Australian Government, as the party or coalition of parties with a majority in this house becomes the governing body. The House of Representatives consists of single-member electorates with roughly equal populations. Each state is allocated seats based on its population, while each original state is guaranteed at least five seats.
Through these three elements, the Australian Parliament combines influences from the British Westminster system and the United States Congress, creating a unique legislative system that serves the country's democratic needs.
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The House of Representatives
The work of the government is scrutinised by the Parliament through various mechanisms. Committees are set up to investigate bills in detail, and the Senate estimates hearings examine how the government has spent taxpayers' money. Additionally, the government is questioned daily during Question Time in both the Senate and the House.
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The role of the monarch
The Australian Parliament is made up of three elements: the monarch, the Senate (upper house), and the House of Representatives (lower house). The monarch of Australia shares equal law-making powers with the Senate and the House of Representatives. The monarch is represented by the governor-general, who provides royal assent for bills to become acts and thus part of the law. While the governor-general is not formally advised by the government to grant assent, it is expected that they will act in accordance with the democratically elected houses of Parliament. In practice, assent has never been refused.
The monarch or governor-general also plays a role in the legislative process. While the House of Representatives is where the government is formed and laws are initiated, all bills must be passed by both the House and the Senate before receiving royal assent from the governor-general to become law. This means that the monarch, through the governor-general, has a crucial role in enacting legislation.
Additionally, the monarch or governor-general has ceremonial duties, such as opening and proroguing Parliament, as well as providing a non-partisan perspective on national issues. They may also have the power to grant pardons or commutations in certain legal cases, although this power is rarely used.
Overall, while the role of the monarch in the Australian Parliament has evolved over time, they continue to play a significant part in the legislative process, providing a symbolic and unifying role, and ensuring the stability and continuity of the Australian democratic system.
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The Senate
The Australian Senate draws inspiration from the United States Senate, adopting the principle of equal state representation. This design provides a platform for states to scrutinise legislation before it becomes law, mirroring the role of the United States Congress. The Senate plays a crucial role in overseeing the work of the government, establishing committees to thoroughly examine bills and scrutinise government expenditures during Senate estimates hearings.
Historically, the Senate has been a platform for significant legislative changes. For instance, in 1924, Tasmanian Nationalist Senator Herbert Payne introduced a private senator's bill that led to the introduction of compulsory voting in federal elections from 1925 onwards, significantly increasing voter turnout. This example demonstrates the impact individual senators can have on Australia's democratic processes through their legislative initiatives.
The Australian Parliament combines elements from both the British Westminster system and the United States Congress. While the lower house, the House of Representatives, follows the Westminster model, where the party with a majority forms the government, the Senate mirrors the US Congress in providing equal state representation and scrutinising legislation. This blend of systems contributes to the unique nature of Australia's parliamentary democracy.
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How laws are made
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament, 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, or the lower house, is made up of single-member electorates with a population of roughly equal size. The party or coalition of parties that has the majority in this House forms the government, with the leader of that party or coalition becoming the prime minister.
The upper house, the Senate, consists of 76 members: twelve for each state and two for each of the self-governing territories. Senators are elected using a proportional system, resulting in a diverse range of parties competing for power.
The monarch of Australia, represented by the governor-general, shares equal law-making powers with the Senate and the House of Representatives. For a bill to become an act and part of the law, it requires royal assent, typically expressed by the governor-general. While it is not a formal requirement, the governor-general is expected to act in accordance with the democratically elected houses of Parliament, and assent has never been refused.
The process of law-making in the Australian Parliament involves the following steps:
- Initiation: A bill, or proposed law, can be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. Any member of Parliament can initiate a bill, but most bills are introduced by the government.
- Debate and Amendment: The bill is debated and amended as necessary in the House where it was introduced. It then moves to the other House for further discussion and potential amendments.
- Passage: If the bill passes through both Houses without any amendments, it is sent to the governor-general for royal assent. If there are amendments, the original House can accept them, and the bill proceeds to the governor-general, or it can be sent back to the other House with a message explaining the amendments or disagreements.
- Royal Assent: The governor-general, on behalf of the monarch, provides royal assent for the bill to become an act and part of the law.
- Implementation: Once a bill becomes an act, it is the responsibility of the government to put the new law into action and ensure its enforcement.
It is important to note that the Australian Parliament combines elements from the British Westminster system, where the majority in the lower house forms the government, and the United States Congress, which provides equal representation to each state and scrutinizes legislation before it becomes law.
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Frequently asked questions
The Parliament of Australia 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 monarch shares law-making powers with the Senate and the House of Representatives. Royal assent, usually expressed by the governor-general, is required for a bill to become an act and part of the law.
The Senate, or upper house, consists of 76 members: 12 for each state and two for each of the self-governing territories. Senators are elected using a proportional system, leading to a diverse range of parties in the chamber.
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Australian Parliament. It is made up of single-member electorates with roughly equal population sizes. The party or coalition of parties with a majority in this house forms the government, with its leader becoming the prime minister. The House of Representatives also plays a role in law-making and scrutinising the work of the government.
