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U301 Part A

U301 part a australian parliament system

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Page 1: U301 part a australian parliament system

U301 Part A

Page 2: U301 part a australian parliament system

SAC Date

0Tuesday 17th Feb 2.30PM I1.18 and I1.19

Page 3: U301 part a australian parliament system

Key Knowledge

0 The principles of the Australian parliamentary system: representative government, responsible government and the separation of powers

0The structure and function of the Victorian Parliament and Commonwealth Parliament and the roles played by the Crown and the houses of parliament in law-making

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The Australian Parliamentary System

0 Constitutional Monarchy0 Monarch (Queen of UK)

0 Commonwealth Constitution (Commonwealth Constitutional Act 1900 (UK))

0 Representative democracy0 Political government carried out by

elected representatives of the people

0 Federation of states0 The Commonwealth Parliament

0 Six state parliaments

0 Two territory parliaments Commonwealth

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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

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Structure of parliament

Commonwealth

ParliamentVictorian Parliament

Head of State

Queen's RepresentativeGovernor-general Governor

Upper house Senate Legislative Council

Lower houseHouse of

Representatives Legislative Assembly

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Political Parties

Houses of Parliament consist of members of the

community who have been elected to hold a seat

from a particular electorate (geographical location)

Most parliamentarians belong to a political party that

share common values ideas and beliefs. Those not

affiliated with a party are known as independents

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Sometimes political

parties will join together

to gain the majority

vote and form a

coalition like that of

the current Liberal

Party and National

Party

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Government

The political party or coalition with

the majority of seats in the lower

house forms government

The cabinet decides which laws

will be heard by parliament but

does not pass laws

The Prime Minister is the leader of

the Commonwealth Parliament and

the Premier is the leader of the state

government

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The

Opposition

The political party or coalition with the next highest

number of votes forms the opposition. The main

role of the opposition is to question and challenge

the government on all political matters

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Commonwealth Parliament

Senate House of

Representatives

150 seats

Elected for a 3 year period

Review bills passed by the

Senate

Form the government

Represent the people

Introduce and pass laws

76 senators (equal

representation of each state

and territories)

Elected for 6 years

Review bills passed by the

House of Representatives

House of review

States' house

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Victorian Parliament

Legislative Council Legislative Assembly

88 members

Fixed 4 year term

Introduce and pass bills

Form government

4o members

4 year term

Introduce bills

Review bills passed by

Legislative Assembly

Can reject or amend bills on

review

UCLA

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The Crown

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

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Principles of the Parliamentary System

0Representative Government

0Responsible Government

0Separation of Powers

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Representative Government

0 Represents the views of the majority

0 Consists of representatives chosen by the people

0 Regular elections aim to maintain this

0 If a government does not reflect the views of the people and/or represent the needs of the majority it will most likely be voted out

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Responsible Government

0 Government is responsible to the voters

0 Ministers are responsible to Parliament and therefore the people

0 Ministers are accountable for the actions of their department

0 Minister must act with integrity and propriety or resign

0 If the government loses the support of the lower house it must resign

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Separation of Powers

0Three types of power

0Held by separate bodies

0Ensures no one body has

absolute power within the

legal system

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Reasons for the separation of powers

0 Protects the stability of government and the freedom of the people

0 Provides independence between the bodies that make the law (parliament) and enforce the law (courts)

0 Provides a check on the power of parliament to ensure that it does not go outside its area of power

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Executive and Legislative are combined

Must remain independent

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Effectiveness of the Parliamentary System

0 Parliament is the supreme law-making body

0Rubber Stamp?

0Time for public debate

0Restrictions

0Reflect values

0Participation by the individual

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End of Part A