LESSON 12.3 How does Australia’s parliamentary system work? LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to: • explain how the different parts of Australia’s parliament interact • describe the roles of important political ýgures like the Prime Minister and the Governor-General • analyse how our parliamentary system reþects democratic principles.
Tune in Australia is a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch as head of state. 1. What is your opinion on the British monarch also serving as Australia’s head of state? 2. In 1975, the Queen’s representative ýred Australia’s elected government. Was this fair? Why or why not? 3. In America, the president isn’t in parliament, but the Australian prime minister is. Is this good or bad?
FIGURE1 King Charles III became the monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms on 8 September 2022.
12.3.1 The three parts of parliament The Australian Parliament has three main parts that work together, like cogs in a machine, all turning to pass laws and keep Australia functioning. They are: • the House of Representatives (lower house) • the Senate (upper house) • the King’s representative (Governor-General). All three parts must work cooperatively to make laws and government effectively. Our Commonwealth Parliament is bicameral . Its main job is to make laws in areas set by the Constitution. Working together: The House of Representatives As the lower house in the federal parliament, the House of Representatives has the following features: • Parliament has 151 members elected for three years. Each member represents an area called an electorate, with about 110 000 voters. Bigger states like New South Wales have more members, while smaller states like Western Australia have fewer. • The Speaker leads the House of Representatives. They are elected by members and keep order during debates, making sure everyone follows the rules called ‘standing orders’. • Most laws start in the House of Representatives, where the government sits. Laws need a majority vote to pass. 12.3.2
446 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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