Structure and Function of Parliament - PowerPoint Presentation

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Structure and Function of Parliament

Victorian and Commonwealth

Senate

Legislative Council

House of Representatives

Legislative Assembly

Governor-general

GovernorSlide2

The Australian Parliamentary System

Constitutional MonarchyMonarch (Queen of UK)Commonwealth Constitution (Commonwealth Constitutional Act 1900 (UK))

Representative democracyPolitical government carried out by elected representatives of the peopleFederation of states

The Commonwealth ParliamentSix state parliamentsTwo territory parliaments

CommonwealthSlide3

Definitions

Parliament – made up of all members of both houses of parliament from all partiesGovernment

– is made up of the members of the party or coalition of parties who hold the majority of votes in the Lower HouseCabinet – is made up of the Prime-Minister and the senior ministers of the Crown and is appointed by the

Governor General on advice of the prime ministerSlide4

Bicameral system – two houses of parliament

Commonwealth and all state parliaments excluding QLD and the territories operate on a bicameral systemSlide5

Structure of Commonwealth ParliamentSlide6
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Structure of House of Representatives (Lower House)

150 members of the HouseElected every 3 yearsEach member represents a division of Australia

Majority of the House forms governmentSlide9

Members of the House of Representatives are elected by a system of preferential voting. Under this system voters are required to number all candidates on the ballot paper in order of preference.

If no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the vote, the preferences expressed on the ballot papers of the lower polling candidates are distributed until one candidate has a majority of votes

.Government is formed by the political party or coalition of parties that wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives. In practice this means winning 76 or more seats at an election

. The largest political party not in government forms the Opposition. The Opposition is effectively the alternative government, so it will usually attempt to hold the government accountable for its decisions.Slide10

Role of House of Representatives (Lower House)

Initiates and makes laws Determines the government (majority forms government)Provides responsible government

Represents the people (acts as a people’s house)Politicises and

scrutinises government administrationControls government expenditure Slide11

Role of the HoR

Forms government – due to regular elections, the people vote in the government who represents he majority of people through their actions and lawsRepresents the people – as the lower house forms government they should make laws that represent the majority of people’s views in their lawmaking

They initiate most new bills Slide12

Structure of Senate (Upper House)

76 SenatorsElected every 6 years (half elected every 3 years) Each member represents a state or territory

Each state has 12 Senators Each territory has 2 SenatorsSlide13

Role of the Senate (Upper House)

Initiates and passes Bills (other than money Bills) Represents the states (acts as a states’ house

)Acts as a house of review Scrutinises legislation (checks all Bills and delegated legislation)Operates as a check on government Slide14

Role of the Senate

The Senate acts as a states house because it has equal representation from each state (12) regardless of populationThis safeguards the interests of the smaller states

HoweverSenators often vote along party lines to ensure re-election, meaning they may not represent their states effectively If the Senate has the same party in power as the lower house (unlikely these days as there are so many independent senators –

eg Darryn Hinch) then there is a “

Rubber Stamp” effect, where legislation is not debated but simply accepted due to party policies If there is the opposition in power in the Senate, there is a “Hostile Upper House – meaning that legislation is likely to be rejected form the lower house due to party policies or “watered down” meaning important legislation may not be passed Slide15

Role of the Crown (Governor-general)

Gives or withholds royal assent

to Bills - this is the signing of a bill by the Crown’s representative, after the bill has passed through both houses, signifying the Crown’s approval of the bill, and sends it for proclamation Under s. 58 of the Constitution, the Governor-General also has the power to withhold the royal assent, and return a Bill to parliament with recommended amendments. Because there is an expectation that the Governor-General will act on the advice of ministers, this has rarely occurred

.Appoints an executive councilFederal level: made up of prime minister

and senior ministersState level: premier and senior ministers Can make delegated legislation Officially opens and closes parliamentary sessions

Has reserve powersPower to appoint or dismiss a premier/prime minister or ministerPower to dissolve the parliament and issue writs for new elections Slide16

Examination question

Discuss the importance of the lower house of Parliament (4 marks) Slide17
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Structure of the Victorian ParliamentSlide19

Structure of Legislative Assembly (Lower House)

88 members Elected every 4 years Each member represents a district of Victoria Majority forms governmentSlide20

Role of Legislative Assembly (Lower House)

Initiates and makes laws Determines the governmentRepresents the people of Victoria

Provides responsible governmentSlide21

Structure of Legislative Council (Upper House)

40 members Elected every 4 years Each member represents a region of Victoria8 regions in Victoria

5 members per regionSlide22

Role of Legislative Council (Upper House

Initiates and passes Bills (other than money Bills) Represents the regions of Victoria Acts as a house of review

Scrutinises legislation Operates as a check on government Slide23

Role of the Crown (Governor)

Gives or withholds royal assent to Bills Appoints an executive council

Federal level: made up of prime minister and senior ministersState level: premier and senior ministers Can make delegated legislation Has reserve powers

Power to appoint or dismiss a premier/prime minister or ministerPower to dissolve the lower houseSlide24

1.2 questions

1.) Explain

the difference between parliament, government and cabinet.

2.) List and explain the respective roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate.3.) Explain

the terms ‘house of review’ and ‘states' house’.4.) What type of Bills cannot be introduced in the Senate?5.) What is the royal assent? Why is it important

?6.) To what extent does the Senate actually operate as a states' house and/or a house of review?Slide25

1.3 – questions 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

1.) What is the name of the upper house in the Victorian Parliament, how many members does it have, and what is the process for their election?

2.) What is the name of the lower house in the Victorian Parliament, how many members does it have, and what is the process for their election?4.)

What is an important limitation on the powers of the Victorian upper house that does not apply in the Commonwealth upper house?5.) Explain the significance of the length of parliamentary terms in Victoria, when compared with the Commonwealth Parliament

.7.) Identify and explain three similarities and three differences between the operation and role of the Commonwealth Parliament and that of the Victorian Parliament.Slide26

Exam question:

“Discuss the importance of the Lower House of Parliament” 4 marks Slide27

Homework

1.2 1-61.3 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

WATCH MY VIDEOS on website (tiggiehawkins.weebly.com) Representative/responsible government

Separation of powers