topic 1 Flashcards
(33 cards)
Structure of Victorian Parliament
Victoria: Legislative Assembly
Victoria: Legislative Council
Victoria: Governor
Structure of Australian Parliament
Australia (Cth): House of Representatives
Australia (Cth): Senate
Australia (Cth): Governor General
Process involved in making a law
First reading
Second reading
Consideration in detail
Third reading
First reading
Second reading -
Consideration in detail
Third reading
Royal assent
First reading
The clerk reads out the title of the bill
No discussion, no vote
Second reading
The member introducing the bill gives a speech outlining the need for the bill and key features of the bill
Other members may give a speech expressing their opinion of the bill
Members vote about whether to proceed with the bill
Consideration in detail
The bill is reviewed in detail sentence by sentence, word by word
Amendments (changes) may be suggested, debated and recommended
Third reading
One (final) vote on the bill
No debate
Royal assent
A bill passed in the Upper (Second) House is presented to the Governor General / Governor in Executive Council for royal assent
Once signed by the Governor General / Governor, the bill becomes an Act of Parliament
bill
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one.
act
An Act is a statute or law passed by both Houses of Parliament that has received Royal Assent.
Reasons why laws need to change
Change in policy
A new political party
pressure from outside
change in the world
change in policy - example
Australian government decides to commit to zero emissions by 2050
A new political party - example
wins an election, forms government and wants to change things
e.g. Labor replacing Liberal-National Coalition in Australia 2022, Biden replacing Trump in USA
pressure from outside - example
media, lobby groups, public pressure through demonstrations, petitions, media, etc.
change in the world - example
new technology requires new laws (illegal to drive while using mobile phone)
Process for changing a law
The process for changing an existing law is exactly the same as the process when a new law is made
Demonstrations – description
Protests and demonstrations are gatherings of groups of people who try to influence government policy or legislation
They can include speeches, marches, chanting
Protests and demonstrations can exert influence on the government
demonstrations, purpose
To show exisitng support
Attract new support
strength of demonstrations
Easy and cheap
Lots of media attention
Attracts new support
weakness of demonstrations
Hard to attract people to go
If it becomes violent their will be negative attention
Parliament can ignore
Role of VLRC
To make recommendations to Parliament on MAJOR areas of law reform referred to them by the Attorney-General**
VLRC cannot investigate these areas of major law reform without first being asked by the Attorney General
Make recommendations to Parliament on minor areas of law reform
VLRC can look at these smaller topics whenever they think it is appropriate or needed, VLRC does not have to wait for the A-G’s referral on minor topics
Process used by VLRC
Attorney-General refers an issue or question about a major law reform to VLRC
VLRC does its research by collecting data, opinions and other information
VLRC completes its research
Reports its recommendations to the A-G
A-G shares the VLRC report in parliament
Government decides whether to change the law
Meaning of balance of power
“Balance in power” means that no one person or group has too much control, ensuring fairness and accountability within parliament
positives of balance of power
The government does not have too much power
views of more members of the community and members of parliament are represented
