11.2 The Bicameral Structure of the Commonwealth Parliament

Question 1

What does a bicameral stucture mean?

Answer 1

Section 1 of the Australian Constitution requires the Commonwealth Parliament to have 2 houses, an upper house and lower house

Question 2

What does section 7 state?

Answer 2

Section 7 requires the Senate to be composed of an equal number of elected members from each state, which are to be directly chosen by the people for a term of 6 years

Question 3

What does section 24 state?

Answer 3

Section 24 requires the House of Representatives to be composed of members directly chosen by the people

Question 4

What does section 28 state?

Answer 4

Section 28 states that every House of Representatives shall continue for 3 years

Question 5

What is the checking process?

Answer 5

The bicameral structure of the Commonwealth Parliament is designed to act as a check on parliament in its law-making role. The Senate in particular is designed to operate as a house of review.

Question 6

What are the strengths of the Bicameral Structure?

Answer 6

• two houses allow for review of legislation by the second house
• If the government holds a slim majority that there is more debate that can occur in the lower house
• the more independents in the Senate allows for reviewing bills to be more careful
• Constitution guarantees periodic elections
• Bicameral parliament is specifically stated

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of a Bicameral structure?

Answer 7

• if the government controls the upper house, it may dilute the debate on law
• if the government holds a majority in the lower house, debates are unlikely to occur
• law-making can be stalled or not as effective as it could be with the newly independent and minor parties in the Senate
• laws will generally only be passed if they are laws that the Federal Government support