Australian Parliamentary Australian Parliamentary SystemSystem

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers

Federal Electoral Boundaries in Federal Electoral Boundaries in VictoriaVictoria

House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

The House of The House of Representatives is known Representatives is known as the “People’s House”as the “People’s House”

Members are elected by Members are elected by citizens who are grouped citizens who are grouped in electoral divisionsin electoral divisions

There are 150 members- 1 There are 150 members- 1 from each division in from each division in Australia.Australia.

Members are elected for a Members are elected for a term of 3 yearsterm of 3 years

The party with the majority The party with the majority of members in this house of members in this house is made governmentis made government

Today’s House of RepsToday’s House of Reps

The SenateThe Senate

The SenateThe Senate

The senate is known as the The senate is known as the ‘States House’‘States House’

Senators are elected by Senators are elected by the citizens of the 6 states the citizens of the 6 states and 2 territoriesand 2 territories

There are 76 Senators – 12 There are 76 Senators – 12 from each state and 2 from from each state and 2 from each territoryeach territory

Senators are elected for a Senators are elected for a term of 6 yearsterm of 6 years

Senate known as ‘The Senate known as ‘The states house’ as it supports states house’ as it supports the rights of the statesthe rights of the states

Also known as the Also known as the parliamentary watch dogparliamentary watch dog

The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister

Leader of the Leader of the government (majority of government (majority of members in the House of members in the House of Reps)Reps)

Elected by his/ her Elected by his/ her political partypolitical party

Resides in the House of Resides in the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

Responsible to his Responsible to his ministers and his ministers and his electorateelectorate

The Governor GeneralThe Governor General Represents the Monarch in Represents the Monarch in

Australia and ParliamentAustralia and Parliament Appointed by the Queen Appointed by the Queen

under the under the recommendation of the recommendation of the Prime MinisterPrime Minister

Role is to formally sign a Role is to formally sign a bill that has been passed bill that has been passed through parliament. It through parliament. It then becomes an ‘Act’ of then becomes an ‘Act’ of parliament and law.parliament and law.

This action is known as This action is known as ‘Royal Assent’‘Royal Assent’

Position is seen as a Position is seen as a formal one, but without formal one, but without carrying any great powercarrying any great power

Governor-General Quentin Bryce

Cabinet and MinistersCabinet and Ministers The Prime Ministers and his The Prime Ministers and his

senior ministers meet senior ministers meet together as the cabinet to together as the cabinet to make government policiesmake government policies

The Prime Minister selects The Prime Minister selects some members of parliament some members of parliament from his own party to be from his own party to be ministers. These men and ministers. These men and women manage different women manage different government responsibilities government responsibilities (called Portfolio’s) which (called Portfolio’s) which include Defence, foreign include Defence, foreign affairs, Aboriginal affairs affairs, Aboriginal affairs

Federal Parliament TermsFederal Parliament Terms Senate:Senate: The upper house of the Federal parliament The upper house of the Federal parliament House of Representatives:House of Representatives: The lower house of The lower house of

federal parliamentfederal parliament Prime minister:Prime minister: The leader of the elected federal The leader of the elected federal

governmentgovernment Opposition:Opposition: The political party without a majority of The political party without a majority of

members in the House of Representativesmembers in the House of Representatives Ministers:Ministers: An elected member of parliament, An elected member of parliament,

representing the government, who has responsibility representing the government, who has responsibility for a special area, or ‘portfolio’for a special area, or ‘portfolio’

Treasurer:Treasurer: Minister responsible for controlling the Minister responsible for controlling the government’s financesgovernment’s finances

Cabinet:Cabinet: The group of government ministers who The group of government ministers who decide government policydecide government policy

Shadow Minister:Shadow Minister: A member of the Opposition who A member of the Opposition who acts as spokesperson for his or her party in a acts as spokesperson for his or her party in a particular areaparticular area

Backbencher:Backbencher: A member of parliament who is not a A member of parliament who is not a minister or shadow ministerminister or shadow minister

Speaker:Speaker: The senior officer presiding over the lower The senior officer presiding over the lower house in State and federal parliamentshouse in State and federal parliaments