1. 6th International Seminar for Parliamentary Research Services
Legislative-Executive Relations in Countries with Cabinet Governments
Jonathan Curtis Assistant Secretary Research Branch
Australian Parliamentary Library

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

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

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

6. Parliament

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

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

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

11. And the Parliament

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

13. Committees Senate Estimates Joint committees Delegated legislation
Human rights
Treaties

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

15. 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