1. Structure and Function of Parliament
Senate
Legislative Council
House of Representatives
Legislative Assembly
Governor-general
Governor
Structure and Function of Parliament
Victorian and Commonwealth

2. The Australian Parliamentary System
Constitutional Monarchy
Monarch (Queen of UK)
Commonwealth Constitution (Commonwealth Constitutional Act (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

3. Bicameral system – two houses of parliament
Upper House
Lower House
Commonwealth and all state parliaments excluding QLD and the territories operate on a bicameral system

4. Structure of Commonwealth Parliament
Queens Representative
Governor-general
Upper House
Senate
Lower House
House of Representatives

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Structure of the Victorian Parliament
Queen’s Representative
Governor
Upper House
Legislative Council
Lower House
Legislative Assembly

11. Structure of Legislative Assembly (Lower House)
88 members
Elected every 4 years
Each member represents a district of Victoria
Majority forms government

12. Role of Legislative Assembly (Lower House)
Initiates and makes laws
Determines the government
Represents the people of Victoria
Provides responsible
government

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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