+

Structure and Function of ParliamentVictorian and Commonwealth

Senate

Legislative Council

House of Representatives

Legislative Assembly

Governor-general

Governor

+The Australian Parliamentary System

Constitutional Monarchy Monarch (Queen of UK) Commonwealth Constitution

(Commonwealth Constitutional Act 1900 (UK))

Representative democracy Political government carried out by

elected representatives of the people

Federation of states The Commonwealth Parliament Six state parliaments Two territory parliaments

Commonwealth

+Bicameral system – two houses of parliament

Bicameral System

Upper House

Lower House

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

+Structure of Commonwealth Parliament

Commonwealth Parliament

Queens Representative

Governor-general

Upper House

Senate

Lower House

House of Representatives

+Structure of House of Representatives (Lower House)

150 members of the House

Elected every 3 years

Each member represents a division of Australia

Majority of the House forms government

+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 administration

Controls government expenditure

+Structure of Senate (Upper House)

76 Senators

Elected every 6 years (half elected every 3 years)

Each member represents a state or territory Each state has 12

Senators Each territory has 2

Senators

+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

+Role of the Crown (Governor-general)

Gives or withholds royal assent to Bills

Appoints an executive council Federal level: made up of prime minister

and senior ministers State level: premier and senior ministers

Can make delegated legislation

Has reserve powers Power to appoint or dismiss a

premier/prime minister or minister Power to dissolve the lower house

+Structure of the Victorian Parliament

Victorian Parliame

nt

Queen’s Representative

Governor

Upper House

Legislative Council

Lower House

Legislative Assembly

+Structure of Legislative Assembly (Lower House)

88 members

Elected every 4 years

Each member represents a district of Victoria

Majority forms government

+Role of Legislative Assembly (Lower House)

Initiates and makes laws

Determines the government

Represents the people of Victoria

Provides responsible

government

+Structure of Legislative Council (Upper House)

40 members

Elected every 4 years

Each member represents a region of Victoria 8 regions in Victoria 5 members per region

+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

+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 ministers State level: premier and senior ministers

Can make delegated legislation

Has reserve powers Power to appoint or dismiss a

premier/prime minister or minister Power to dissolve the lower house