Post-Exam - Commonwealth Parliament

Question 1

Governor-General (GG) roles

Answer 1

• Giving Royal Assent to a bill (they can recommend changes, however, a bill has never been refused)
• Starting the process for a federal election
• Appointing times for Parliament to meet
• Acting as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force

Question 2

GG ceremonial responsibilities

Answer 2

• Attending the opening of a new parliament and making a speech about what the new government intends to do
• Administering the oath of office to the Prime Minister, Ministers, judges and other officials
• Meeting foreign heads of state and ambassadors
• Attending Anzac Day ceremonies
• Awarding special honours

Question 3

GG civic role

Answer 3

• Visiting places hit by national disaster such as floods or fire
• Opening and attending national and international meetings and conferences
• Attending exhibitions, sporting events and functions as an official patron of organisations
• Visiting regions or areas to make people involved in a particular group or industry

Question 4

Senate - President

Answer 4

• A senator who is responsible for running the meetings of the Senate

Question 5

Senate - Vice-Regal Chair

Answer 5

• Used by the king or Governor General. When it is occupied, it is moved forward and the president’s chair is moved to the right

Question 6

Senate - Usher of the Black Rod

Answer 6

• A non elected parliamentary officer who assists the president to maintain order and helps to run the Senate

Question 7

Senate - Black Rod

Answer 7

• A ceremonial object carried by the Usher of the Black Rod. When the Senate is in session and the Black Rod is not in use, it stands upright beside the Usher of the Black Rod’s chair

Question 8

Senate - Minister

Answer 8

• A member of Parliament that is in charge of a government department that puts law into action

Question 9

Senate - Shadow Ministers

Answer 9

• Opposition members whose shadow, or look closely at, the actions of government ministers

Question 10

Senate - Backbenchers

Answer 10

• Members of Parliament who are not ministers or shadow ministers. They can draw attention to issues in their community by speaking about them in Parliament

Question 11

Senate - Crossbench

Answer 11

• Elected representatives who are not part of the government or opposition. They can either be independents or minor party members

Question 12

HoR - Hansard

Answer 12

• The official written record of what is said in Parliament. The people who work to create Hansard are called Hansard editors

Question 13

HoR - Clerk and Deputy Clerk

Answer 13

• The top level non elected parliamentary officers in the Senate and House. The Clerk and Deputy Clerk record meeting decisions and advised members of parliament about meeting rules

Question 14

HoR - Speaker

Answer 14

• A member of the House of Representatives who is responsible for running the meetings in the House of Representatives

Question 15

HoR - Prime Minister

Answer 15

• The leader of the government. By tradition, they are always a member of the House

Question 16

HoR - Serjeant-at-Arms

Answer 16

• A non-elected parliamentary officer who assists the Speaker to maintain order and helps to run the House of Representatives

Question 17

HoR - Mace

Answer 17

• The symbol of authority of the House of Representatives and the speaker. At the start of each sitting day, the Mace is carried into the house by the Serjeant-at-Arms and placed on the central table where it sits while the house is meeting

Question 18

Roles of Parliament - Representation

Answer 18

• This is the job of each member of Parliament to speak for and make decisions on behalf of the people who live in their community
• Some examples include debating issues, representing the views of people in their electorate, discussing issues of national and international importance, attending parliamentary meetings to decide on policies, scrutinising the work of the government and working on parliamentary committees to examine important issues

Question 19

Roles of Parliament - Forming government

Answer 19

• To stay in power, the government must keep the support of more than half of the 151 members of the House of Representatives, or at least 76. A majority in the Senate is not required
• Some groups included in forming government are; ministers, cabinet, the opposition, shadow ministers, the crossbench and the majority or minority government

Question 20

Roles of Parliament - Making laws

Answer 20

• One of the main roles of Parliament is to make new laws and amend old ones
• Ideas for new laws could come from committees, political parties, private members or senators’ bills, government departments, the public or lobby groups
• Processes include introduction, passing and amending