ellenWhat is the Australian Parliament made up of?
The federal Parliament sits at the centre of Australia’s three levels of government. Australians vote to elect representatives to each level: federal, state or territory, and local.
The decision-making body of the federal government is the Federal Parliament, which consists of two houses – the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Australian Parliament is made up of the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Parliament of Australia (formally named the Parliament of the Commonwealth) is made up of a total of 226 people popularly elected to the Senate and House of Representatives, who represent the interests of Australians and make laws for the peace, order and good government of the nation under section 51 of the Australian Constitution.
What does the Parliament do?
The Parliament makes laws, represents Australians, scrutinises the government and provides a place where government is formed.
Law-making takes up a large share of the sitting calendar. When Parliament meets, senators and members of the House of Representatives spend around half their time considering bills – proposals for new laws.
How does a bill become law?
A bill needs agreement from both houses. To become a law, a bill must be agreed to by a majority vote in the Senate and the House of Representatives and be given Royal Assent by the Governor-General.
That means a proposal for a new law has to pass the House, pass the Senate, and then receive Royal Assent before it becomes law.
How often are federal elections held?
A federal election must be held every three years because Australia’s Constitution limits the term of Members of the House of Representatives.
At the federal level, voting is how Australians choose the people who sit in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
What happens when no party wins a majority?
Australian federal elections can produce a parliament where no single party holds an absolute majority of seats. That situation is known as a hung parliament.
The Australian Electoral Commission assesses seat safety on the two-party-preferred vote: a party winning more than 60 per cent of the vote in a seat is treated as holding a safe seat, between 56 and 60 per cent counts as fairly safe, and under 56 per cent makes the seat marginal.
Frequently asked questions
What are the two houses of Australia’s federal Parliament?
The two houses are the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Who is part of the Australian Parliament?
The Australian Parliament is made up of the King, represented by the Governor-General, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
What are the main roles of the Parliament?
The Parliament makes laws, represents Australians, scrutinises the government and provides a place where government is formed.
What has to happen before a bill becomes law?
A bill must be agreed to by a majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and then be given Royal Assent by the Governor-General.
How often must a federal election be held?
A federal election must be held every three years, because the Constitution limits the term of Members of the House of Representatives.
What is a hung parliament?
A hung parliament occurs when no party wins an absolute majority of seats.
How does the Australian Electoral Commission define a safe seat?
The Commission looks at the two-party-preferred vote: 60 per cent or more is a safe seat, 56 to 60 per cent is fairly safe, and under 56 per cent is marginal.