Commonwealth Parliament

Question 1

What is parliament?

Answer 1

• Body that consists of democratically elected members, chosen by the people to make federal laws
• Also includes the Governor General and King

Question 2

What is a constitutional monarch?

Answer 2

• We recognise the Crown as our Head of State, but elect representatives to make laws

Question 3

What is the constitution?

Answer 3

• Founding document that grants lawmaking powers to the parliament and High Court

Question 4

What is the structure of the Commonwealth Parliament?

Answer 4

• Bicameral, meaning it has two houses
  
  • The House of Representatives (Lower House)
  • The Senate (Upper House)

Question 5

How is the Lower House constructed?

Answer 5

• Made up of 151 seats, of which a party needs 76 to win
• Fully re-elected every 3 years

Question 6

What is the role of the Lower House?

Answer 6

• Once a majority is achieved, the winning party forms government and their leader becomes Prime Minister
• As a result, the majority of bills are introduced here

Question 7

How is the Upper House constructed?

Answer 7

• Each state, regardless of population has 12 seats in the Senate
• Each territory has 6 senators
• Senators are elected for 6 year terms, and half are re-elected every 3 years

Question 8

What is government?

Answer 8

• The political party who has won the election

Question 9

What is a political party?

Answer 9

• An organisation of politicians who share similar political views, ethos and values
• Aim to attract as many voters with similar ideals to vote for them

Question 10

What is an electorate?

Answer 10

• Geographical area with around 110K people living within it, represented by one MP each

Question 11

What is a coalition?

Answer 11

• A political alliance between two or more political parties that share the same views, or see an advantage of joining together

Question 12

The Crown (Gov. Gen.)

Answer 12

• David Hurley
• Grants royal assent by signing off on passed bills to make them laws
• Could return bills with suggestions of amendments
• Form an executive council to inform him on government matters
• Swear in the PM and cabinet

Question 13

The Lower House

Answer 13

• Introduce bills
  
  • Initiated by MPs to benefit the people of Australia
  • Any financial bills must be initiated in the Lower House
• Form representative government
  
  • MPs should act in a way that reflects the views and values of their electorate
• Scrutinise legislation
  
  • Can act as a house of review if a bill is initiated in the Upper House
  • Will make amendments if necessary
• Form government
  
  • Party with a majority in the Lower House forms the government with their leader becoming Prime Minister

Question 14

The Upper House

Answer 14

• Review bills
  
  • As most bills are initiated/passed in the Lower House first, the Senate debates and reviews these bills to ensure they don’t disadvantage states
  • Can suggest amendments/reject if they disagree
• Ensure equal representation of states
  
  • Due to the same number of senators per state, this ensures that states with less population who are outnumbered in the Lower House have equal say in the Senate
• Initiate bills
  
  • If a Minister is also a senator, they are likely to initiate a bill in the Senate around their area of specialisation