How laws are made

Question 1

Structure of Victorian Parliament

Answer 1

Victorian Parliament Structure
1. Legislative Assembly (Lower House)

Members: 88
Role: Forms government; majority party leader becomes Premier.
Function: Proposes and debates laws.

2. Legislative Council (Upper House)

Members: 40
Role: Reviews and amends laws from the Assembly.
Function: Acts as a house of review.

3. Key Points

Premier: Leader of the majority in the Assembly.
Governor: Gives royal assent to bills, making them law.
Law-making Process

( This structure helps ensure balanced and fair law-making.)

Question 2

Structure of the Australian
( Commonwealth) Parliament

Answer 2

. House of Representatives (Lower House)

Members: 151
Role: Forms government; the leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister.
Function: Proposes and debates laws; most bills start here.

2. Senate (Upper House)
   Members: 76 (12 from each state, 2 from each territory)
   Role: Reviews and amends laws from the House of Representatives.
   Function: Acts as a house of review; represents the states and territories.
3. Key Points

Prime Minister: Leader of the majority in the House of Representatives.
Governor-General: Represents the King and gives royal assent to bills, making them law.
Law-making Process

1. Proposal: Bill introduced in the House of Representatives.
2. Debate and Vote: The House of Representatives votes on the bill.
3. Review: The Senate reviews and votes on the bill.
4. Assent: The Governor-General approves the bill, becoming law.

Question 3

Process involved in making a law

Answer 3

1. The idea for a law is formulated and turned into a bill
2. First reading ( first house )
3. Second reading ( first house)
4. Consideration in detail ( first house )
5. Third reading ( First house )
6. first reading ( second house)
7. second reading ( second house)
8. Consideration in detail ( Second house)
9. Third reading ( second house)
10. ROYAL ASSENT

Question 4

1st House - First Reading:

Answer 4

Members of parliament are given a brochure of
proposal.

Agreement is made to meet at a later date to debate
and discuss bill.

Question 5

1st House - Second Reading:

Answer 5

Other members debate and discuss the proposal.

Once all have had their input, a vote takes place to
decide whether the bill progresses to the next stage.

Question 6

1st House – Consideration in
detail:

Answer 6

The bill is now scrutinised, sentence by sentence by
each member of parliament.

Amendments, changes or recommendations are put
forward.

Question 7

1st House – Third reading:

Answer 7

One final vote to decide whether bill progresses to
next house.

Question 8

Role of 2nd house:

Answer 8

It is important to note that most bills (but not all) are
normally introduced in the lower house.

The process that we just discussed is repeated exactly
the same in the 2nd house.

If at any point, a change is made to the bill (any
change at all), it goes back to the 1st house to start
again.

Question 9

Royal Assent:

Answer 9

This is signed off by the King’s Representative.

It is extremely rare that this step is knocked back.

Once signed off, it becomes law.

Question 10

Prime Minister

Answer 10

Role: Leader of the government; directs legislative agenda.

Question 11

House of Representatives:

Answer 11

• debates, amends, and votes on proposed laws (bills). If a bill passes here, it goes to the Senate for further review.

Question 12

Ministers

Answer 12

Role: Head government departments; propose specific bills related to their portfolios

Question 13

Speaker (House of Representatives)

Answer 13

Role: Ensures orderly conduct and debate in the House of Representatives.

Question 13

Governor-General

Answer 13

Role: Represents the King; gives royal assent to bills, making them law.