Chapter 1 - The Australian Parliamentary System Flashcards
Bicameral
Two houses of parliament
Crown
The authority of the Queen
Upper house of Commonwealth Parliament
The Senate
Lower house of Commonwealth Parliament
House of Representatives
Upper house of Victorian Parliament
Legislative Council
Lower house of Victorian Parliament
Legislative Assembly
Federation
A union of sovereign states that relinquish some powers to a central authority to form one nation.
Government
Formed by the political party that governs the country (or state). This is the party that achieves the largest number of members voted into the lower house (the House of Representatives at a federal level and the Legislative Assembly at a state level).
Legislation
Laws made by parliament, known as Acts of parliament or statutes.
Government minister
A member of parliament who is also a member of the political party that has formed government, and has some particular responsibility such as being in charge of a government department.
Parliament
The supreme law-making body consisting of all elected members of both houses from all political parties and the Crown’s representative.
Prime minister
The member of parliament who leads the political party that has formed government.
Representative government
Refers to a government that represents the view of the majority of the people.
Responsible government
The executive government (prime minister, senior ministers and government departments) is accountable to parliament, and can only continue to govern as long as it has the support of the lower house of parliament. If the government loses the support of the lower house then it must resign.
Royal assent
The signing of a proposed law by the Crown’s representative before it becomes law.