6th International Seminar for Parliamentary Research Services Legislative-Executive Relations in Countries with Cabinet Governments Jonathan Curtis Assistant Secretary Research Branch Australian Parliamentary Library

Overview The Australian system The Executive’s power And the Parliament The dynamics of an ongoing balancing act

The Australian system Federation Six British colonies: a nation in 1901 Federal political system Constitutional monarchy Parliamentary democracy

The Australian system The Constitution Two houses of Parliament The Executive High Court of Australia

Parliament

The Executive The Governor General Government: the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Australian Public Service

The Australian system Some confusing characteristics Mixture of law and convention Numerous overlaps Shared powers and jurisdictions

The Executive’s power Majority in the House of Representatives Summon and prorogue Parliament Resources of government A trend towards growing power?

And the Parliament

Parliament as a check Formation of government Appropriation of funds Parliamentary privilege Question time The Senate

Committees Senate Estimates Joint committees Delegated legislation Human rights Treaties

Parliamentary agencies Parliamentary Budget Office Australian National Audit Office Parliamentary Library and research service

Research Branch 80 researchers and support staff, in 7 subject sections: Economics Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Law and Bills Digest Politics and Public Administration Science, Technology, Environment and Resources Social Policy Statistics and Mapping