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Chapter 2

Chapter 2. The Australian Parliamentary System Wednesday 8 February 2012. Westminster System. Bicameral – two houses – Upper and Lower Head of Parliament is the Sovereign/Crown/Monarch (the QUEEN) Parliament is supreme. Australia’s Parliament. Terra nullius

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Chapter 2

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  1. Chapter 2 The Australian Parliamentary System Wednesday 8 February 2012

  2. Westminster System • Bicameral – two houses – Upper and Lower • Head of Parliament is the Sovereign/Crown/Monarch (the QUEEN) • Parliament is supreme

  3. Australia’s Parliament • Terra nullius • Federation – rationale: to create a central authority to create laws/policies for national issues • The Constitution – gives us the structure of government and its powers; established the High Court

  4. Key Principles • Separation of Powers • Representative Government • Responsible Government

  5. Separation of Powers • The legal system has 3 main functions: legislative (makes the laws); executive (administers the law); and judicial (interprets/applies the law) • These 3 functions are given to different bodies to perform • Provides a system of checks and balances so that no single body holds absolute authority (and therefore prevents abuse of power).

  6. Representative Government • Central to our system of government- democracy • Represents the views of the majority of voters • Government formed by party with majority of seats in the lower house • Lower house represents the will of the majority • Upper house represents the interests of each state/region

  7. Responsible Government • Government is answerable to parliament • Parliament can establish committees to investigate government actions • Parliamentary debate and Hansard provide for public scrutiny

  8. Legislative Assembly

  9. Legislative Council

  10. Learning Objectives • Explain the need for a separation of powers • Explain the features of representative and responsible government • Explain why laws may need to change

  11. DO NOW • What do the following have in common: • Legislative assembly and House of Representatives • Governor and governor general • Senate and Legis. Council • Statute law, acts of parliament, delegated legislation

  12. Changing the law • Predict what we will learn in Chapter 3 • Why do laws need to change?

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