1. Law-making by parliament and subordinate authorities

2. What you will learn The structure and role of parliament
The law-making process of parliament
The types of subordinate authorities
The law-making process by subordinate authorities

3. Role of parliament in Australia
All societies need a supreme body to:
govern
administer
pass laws
to regulate the affairs of society and its members

4. Laws made by parliament are known as legislation.
Once these laws are written and published they become known as statutes or Acts of Parliament.

5. Federal system of governmentQ
What is the significance of January 1, 1901?
Australia became a Federation
Thus forming the Commonwealth of Australia

6. Prior to Federation…
Australia was made up of six self-governing colonies, independent of each other.
Why do you think federation occurred? Q
What are some of the advantages of a having Commonwealth?

7. Federal government The Commonwealth of Australia consists of:
Six states - Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.
Two territories - Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

8. Responsibility for law-making
This responsibility is shared between:
State parliament
Federal parliament
BUT
While each state in the Federation governs and administers its own affairs, the federal or Commonwealth government governs the country as a whole.

9. Constitution G
A set of guidelines outlining the structure and law-making powers of parliament
This document outlines:
the principles of government
law-making powers of each parliament

10. Commonwealth law will always override state lawQ
Whilst there are two types of law in operation at any one time, what happens when there is a conflict or inconsistency over a particular law?
Commonwealth law will always override state law

11. Test your knowledge What is the function of parliament?
What are the laws made by parliament known as, and what are they written in?
When did the Commonwealth of Australia come into existence?
What does the term ‘federal system of government’ mean?

12. Division of legal legislative power
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900
states that the Federal Parliament has the power to make laws ‘for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth’
There are two types of such powers

13. The Constitution grants the Commonwealth parliament:
exclusive powers in certain matters
concurrent powers with the state parliaments in others
Any powers not listed in the Constitution as exclusive or concurrent belong to the states and are known as residual powers.

14. The Commonwealth has assumed primary control over:
postal services
industrial disputes
marriage
divorce
trademarks
copyright
foreign affairs
foreign trade
migration
social services
taxation
banking

15. The states have taken primary responsibility for:
legal sys admin
police & crime
education
housing
health
transport
agriculture
town planning
environment
mining
water
power supply
youth
sport

16. Structure of parliament
In Australia our parliament is based on the Westminster system in England.
There are nine separate parliaments:
one Commonwealth
six state
two territory

17. Systems of parliament Exception to this… Queensland two territories
The Commonwealth and majority states follow a bi-cameral (a parliament that consists of two houses) system of parliament.
Exception to this…
Queensland
two territories

18. Queensland and the territories have only one house.
Bi-cameral system
Parliament is made up of two houses:
Upper house
Lower house
Queensland and the territories have only one house.

19. Commonwealth parliament
The Commonwealth Parliament
Queen’s Representative
(Governor-General)
Lower House
(House of Representatives)
150 members
Upper House
(Senate)
76 members

20. State parliament The State Parliament Lower House Upper House
Queen’s Representative
(Governor)
Lower House
(Legislative Assembly)
88 members
Upper House
(Legislative Council)
40 members

21. How do you become a member of parliament?
Members of parliament
How do you become a member of parliament?
members are elected by the people
at election time
allocated a seat in a House

22. Electorates Every person over the age 18 required to vote at both:
Commonwealth
State elections.

23. Candidates stand for election in each electorate.
Electoral division
Australia and the states are divided into electoral districts based on:
geographic location
population in each area
Candidates stand for election in each electorate.

24. In Australia we use a preferential system of voting.
voters place numbers in order of preference
candidates represent a political party
votes are allocated according to preference
candidates with the most votes wins the seat and becomes a member of parliament

25. Formation of government
After an election the political party with the most votes in the lower house forms the government.
The Prime Minister is the leader of that party
The largest party opposing the government forms the opposition.

26. Responsibility of members
elected members represent the concerns and issues of their electorate to the parliament
answer questions and contribute to debates
introduce proposed laws
discuss details of legislation with members or the public
serve on parliamentary committees

27. This is the policy-making body of government consisting of:
Cabinet
This is the policy-making body of government consisting of:
Prime Minister
senior ministers
Ministers are members of government appointed to lead a specific portfolio or department.

28. Commonwealth Parliament

29. House of Representatives
150 members
represents an electoral division throughout Australia
hold office for three year term
Government is formed in this house
also known as the ‘green house’
the Speaker presides over the house and is responsible for ensuring parliamentary rules and orders are followed

30. Senate 76 members each state elects 12 representatives
each territory elects 2 representatives
members hold office for a six year term
half the members elected every three years
Senate ensures equal representation from each state, regardless of population
also known as ‘red house’
the President presides over the house

31. Victorian Parliament

32. Legislative Assembly 88 members
each member represents an electoral district throughout the state
members hold office for four years
government is formed in this house
the Speaker presides of the chamber

33. Legislative Council 40 members
elected from eight regions with five members from each region
members elected by proportional representation
members hold office for four years
the President presides over the chamber

34. The initiation of legislation
Party policies
& political influences
The
courts
Public
opinion
Parliamentary
committees
INITIATION OF LEGISLATION
Investigative
commissions
Pressure &
Lobby groups
Government
departments
Law
Reform bodies