1. The Roles of the Crown and Houses of Parliament in Law Making

3. What do you know?

4. To make laws
Determining Government
Provide for representative government
Each member represents equal number of electors
Provide for responsible government
Petitions presented, Issued raised during question time.
Scrutinise government
Debates, policy statements, discussions, question time
Controlling government spending
Government can only collect taxes or spend public money if law is passed by parliament

6. Reviewing laws
Providing representative government
Safeguard interests of states – each state elects equal number of senators
Providing responsible government
Party in Government does not necessarily hold majority of seats in the senate
Scrutinising government
Especially when government doesn’t have majority of seats Senate can question actions effectively.

8. Watch live!

9. Read “Pressure to Legislate (pg 224) and complete this table
Role of the Senate
Read “Pressure to Legislate (pg 224) and complete this table
Strengths
Weaknesses

10. Strengths of the Senate
Forms an integral part of ‘Separation of Powers’ – provides checks and balances on the power of the executives – makes Government accountable and exposes misconduct.
Reviews legislation to improve bills with amendments or defeats unwise legislation
Mostly outside the control of the Government of the day (no majority)
Provides a broader sense of representation (represents smaller states and supporters or opposition (independents)
Allows for input from smaller parties by providing opportunities for them to discuss their ideas – helps foster respect for the diversity of the Australian community.
Has a committee process that allows for detailed study of issues
Better representation of citizens through petitions as independents better represented.
Sits for longer and devotes more time to individual pieces of legislation

11. Weaknesses of the Senate
Senators often vote according to party policies
Empowers small parties who may effectively have the power to veto laws supported by Government in House of Reps.
Disproportionate representation of states and territories
6 year terms can insulate senators from full impact of changes in view of the electorate – thus diminish degree senators are responsive to electorate.

12. Cabinet A meeting of Ministers
Most members of the Cabinet are ministers with a ‘portfolio’
Members of Cabinet determine the general policy for Government.
Most bills are approved by cabinet before they are presented to parliament.

13. Role of the Crown To grant royal assent to legislation
To appoint the times of the holding of parliament
To bring and end to a session of parliament without dissolving it
To dissolve the House of Representatives and bring about an election
To cause writs to be issues for the general election of member of the House of Representatives
To choose and summon executive councillors (ministers and parliamentary secretaries) and to appoint minister of state for Australia.

15. What have you learnt?