Lyla Lindsey
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the Australian Government. 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 Australian Parliament combines elements from the Westminster system and the United States Congress. The upper house, the Senate, consists of 76 members, while the House of Representatives has 150 members. The Parliament of Australia is responsible for making federal laws that apply to the whole country, with the three levels of government working together to provide services to the people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of levels of government | 3 (federal, local, and state) |
| Federal government | Looks after issues like defence, border security, customs, trade and foreign affairs, money, and airports and seaports |
| State and territory governments | Control things like schools, hospitals, emergency services, public housing, and the environment |
| Federal legislature of Australia | The Parliament of Australia (officially the Parliament of the Commonwealth and also known as the Federal Parliament) |
| Composition of Parliament of Australia | The monarch of Australia (represented by the governor-general), the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house) |
| Number of members in the Senate | 76 |
| Number of members in the House of Representatives | Not specified, but has a maximum term of 3 years |
| Legislative power | Setting down rules of general application |
| Executive power | Applying those rules to specific situations |
| Legislative members selection | Directly or indirectly elected, or selected by its province, state, or department legislatures, or appointed by the country's executive body |
| Voting systems | Plurality/majority and proportional representation |
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What You'll Learn
The three levels of government
Australia has three levels of government: federal, state and territory, and local. Each level of government has different responsibilities and powers, and they work together to manage the country.
At the top is the federal government, led by the Prime Minister, who is the head of the government and is responsible for implementing its policies and laws. The federal government deals with issues such as defence, border security, customs, trade, foreign affairs, monetary policy, and airports and seaports. The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament, is the federal legislative body. It consists of the monarch of Australia (represented by the governor-general), the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house). The Senate has 76 members, with an equal number of senators from each state, and its term is fixed. The House of Representatives has a maximum term of three years. All bills must be passed by both houses and assented to by the governor-general to become laws.
Below the federal government are the state and territory governments. The leader of a state government is called the Premier, while the leader of a territory government is called the Chief Minister. The state and territory governments control areas such as schools, hospitals, emergency services, public housing, justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, main roads, and the environment. They share control with the federal government over some areas, such as the environment, public health, and education, and in the event of conflicting laws, the federal law takes precedence.
The local government is the third level, and its decision-making body is usually called the city council or shire council. Councils are established by state governments to address the specific needs of a city or local community. The representatives of the people in the council are called aldermen or councillors. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) combines the territory and local levels of government, with the Assembly and ACT Government performing local-level responsibilities.
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The role of the governor-general
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 (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house). The monarch of Australia is represented by the governor-general, who plays a crucial role in the legislative branch of the Australian government.
The governor-general also has a significant role in the legislative process. In Australia's parliamentary system, the monarch shares law-making powers with the Senate and the House of Representatives. Royal assent, expressed by the governor-general, is required for a bill to become an act and part of the law. While the governor-general is not formally advised by the government to grant assent, they are expected to act in accordance with the democratically elected houses of Parliament. In practice, royal assent has never been refused. This means that the governor-general's role in the legislative process is largely ceremonial but crucial in passing laws.
The Federal Executive Council advises the governor-general in the exercise of executive power. The council is composed of all current and former ministers, although only current ministers are summoned to meetings. The governor-general typically presides over these meetings, but in their absence, another minister nominated as the vice-president of the Executive Council takes their place. The council's decisions give legal effect to the cabinet's deliberations, formalising the decisions made by the government.
In summary, the governor-general's role in the legislative branch of the Australian government is twofold. They represent the monarch and exercise executive power, including appointing the prime minister, and they play a ceremonial but crucial role in the legislative process by providing royal assent to bills for them to become law. The governor-general operates within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, balancing the formal powers vested in their office with the expectation that they respect the will of the democratically elected Parliament.
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The Senate
The Parliament of Australia 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 Senate, the upper house of the Australian Parliament, consists of 76 members: twelve for each state, and two for each of the self-governing territories. Senators are elected using the proportional representation system, and as a result, the chamber features a multitude of parties vying for power. This tends to lead to the chamber being dominated by two major political groups: the centre-right Coalition (consisting of the Liberal and National parties) and the centre-left Labor Party.
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The House of Representatives
The Australian federal government is divided into three branches: the legislature, which makes the laws; the executive, which carries out the laws; and the judiciary, which interprets and enforces the laws. The legislative branch is crucial, as it is responsible for creating the laws that govern the country. At the heart of this branch is the Parliament of Australia, which is composed of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is worth noting that the Australian legislative system is based on a fusion of powers, meaning that there is overlap between the roles of the branches, and members of one branch may also be members of another.
Now, let's focus on the House of Representatives.
To be eligible to run for the House, a person must be an Australian citizen, at least 18 years old, and their name must be on the electoral roll. There are also certain disqualifying factors, such as holding certain offices or having certain conflicts of interest. The members are elected using a full-preferential voting system, also known as instant-runoff voting, where voters rank the candidates in order of preference. This system ensures that the elected member has the support of a majority of voters. Each electoral division is designed to have roughly the same number of voters, ensuring equal representation across the country.
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The monarch's powers
Australia is a federation, a country made up of several self-governing states and territories with a national government that sits above them. The Parliament of Australia (officially the Parliament of the Commonwealth, also known as the Federal Parliament) is the federal legislature of Australia. It consists of three elements: the monarch of Australia, the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house).
The monarch of Australia, represented by the governor-general, shares co-equally the law-making powers of the Commonwealth with the Senate and the House of Representatives. The royal assent, usually expressed by the governor-general, is required for a bill to become an act and thus part of the law. The governor-general is advised by the Federal Executive Council, which includes all current and former ministers, although only current ministers are summoned to meetings.
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 multitude of parties vying for power. The Senate has the same legislative powers as the House, except that it may not amend or introduce money bills, only pass or reject them. The House of Representatives has a maximum term of three years, although it can be dissolved early.
The prime minister is the head of the federal government and is appointed by the governor-general. The prime minister and their sworn ministers form the cabinet, which makes policy and decides the government's agenda. Members of the government can exercise both legislative power (through their control of parliament) and executive power (as ministers on behalf of the governor-general and the monarch).
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Frequently asked questions
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 (represented by the governor-general), the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house).
The legislative branch has the power to make laws. In the case of Australia, the monarch shares law-making powers with the Senate and the House of Representatives.
For a bill to become a law, it must be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and then assented to by the governor-general.
The upper house, or the Senate, consists of 76 members: 12 for each state and two for each of the self-governing territories. Senators are elected using a proportional system, which results in a diverse range of parties. The lower house, or the House of Representatives, has a maximum term of three years.
Members of the Australian Parliament are directly elected by eligible voters using a defined electoral system. Australia uses a mix of electoral methods, including plurality/majority and proportional representation.
