Chapter 11 Accountability and the Parliament Flashcards
This independent statutory authority administers the Commonwealth Electoral Act and coordinates elections
The Australian Electoral Commission
s7 of the Constitution mandates a ________ 6 year term for the Senate
fixed
The two sections of the Constitution which ensure the two Houses of Parliament are elected by the people
7 and 24
Parliament is responsible for four functions, being
statutes passed, representing the people, forming and holding executive to account, dealing with debate and deliberation properly
Single member electorates and a majoritarian system are two key features of this voting system introduced in 1919
preferential voting
This MHR lost her Liberal seat in 2013 and her attempt to recontest the seat of Indi in 2016
Sophie Mirabella
These three independent MHRs were under intense scrutiny from 2010 to 203 through their support for the minority government of Julia Gillard
Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie and Tony Windsor
The phenomenon of winning an election overall by a small majority of votes but a larger majority of seats is known as ___________ _____________
winner’s bonus
The proportional voting system in the Senate has been used since this year
1949
Two means of voting in the Senate are ________ and ______________
above the line, below the line
This ALP Senator from Tasmania was the first to be elected through support from below the line voters in 2016, where she was ranked 6th of the ALP Senators
Lisa Singh
The most notable example of disproportionate power being able to be wielded by a Senator was this Tasmanian Senator in the 1990s
Brian Harradine
If an MHR holds a seat by more than 6% margin and below 10%, it is classified as _________
fairly safe
This WA seat was targeted by the ALP in the 2016 election, resulting in a victory for Anne Aly
Cowan
The seat of Mayo was won in 2016 by this party which had targeted it despite the margin of 12% to overcome
NXT, now Central Alliance
This pressure group was instrumental in the defeat of Andrew Nikolic in the seat of Bass in 2016, by distributing how to vote cards numbering Nikolic last.
Getup
Accountability of MPs is the focus of three Standing Committees. Name two.
House Standing Committee of Privileges and Members’ Interests; Senate Standing Committee for Privileges; Senate Standing Committee of Senators’ Interests
Two causes of being called to account for privileges
contempt or breach of privilege; unparliamentary conduct
The most famous recent MHR referred to the House Standing Committee for breach of parliamentary privilege
Craig Thomson
MPs are held to account in following Standing Orders in the Senate by _________
the President
The infamous Speaker who was forced to step down as Speaker by Tony Abbott in 2015 was the most partisan of recent Speakers
Bronwyn Bishop
This parliamentary procedure allows members MPs to speak in parliament about current issues
Matters of Public Importance
These parliamentary committees are formed for a special purpose
Select Committees
Electoral Matters, Human Rights and Treaties are all examples of these Committees comprised of members of both Houses
Joint Committees
A statute passed by Parliament is not constitutional unless grounded in a constitutional _________ of power
head
A statute may only be challenged by a party with __________ and brought before the High Court
standing
This landmark High Court case of 1951 had implications in restricting legislative power of the Commonwealth through judicial review, protecting rights and upholding the rule of law principle
Communist Party Case
Name the three maxims of statutory interpretation
ejusdem generis; noscitur a sociis; expressio unis exclusio alterius
Name the three rules of statutory interpretation
literal, golden, mischief or purpose
