the victorian parliament

Question 1

define governor

Answer 1

the King’s representative at the state level

Question 2

define Legislative Council

Answer 2

the upper house of the
Victorian Parliament

Question 3

define Legislative Assembly

Answer 3

the lower house of the
Victorian Parliament

Question 4

Like the Parliament of Australia, the Parliament of Victoria (also known as the Victorian Parliament) is a
bicameral parliament. The Parliament of Victoria consists of:

Answer 4

• the King (represented by the governor of Victoria)
• the Legislative Council (the upper house)
• the Legislative Assembly (the lower house)

Question 5

the legislative assembly

Answer 5

• There are 88 members of the Legislative Assembly in Victoria.
• Victoria is divided into 88 electoral districts for state elections.
• Voters in each district elect a representative for the lower house.
• Members represent the interests of their district and serve a four-year term.
• State elections are held every four years on the last Saturday in November.
• The political party (or coalition) with the majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly forms the government.
• The leader of the government is known as the Premier of Victoria.
• The party with the next highest number of elected members becomes the opposition.
• The leader of the opposition appoints shadow ministers to keep a check on the activities and responsibilities of the corresponding government ministers.

Question 6

the role of the legislative assembly in law-making

Answer 6

• The main role of the Victorian Parliament is to make laws.
• The process of passing a bill in the Victorian Parliament is similar to that of the Commonwealth Parliament.
• A bill must go through specific stages in both houses of parliament.
• It must be passed by a majority in both houses in identical form.
• The bill must receive royal assent from the Governor of Victoria before becoming a statute.

Question 7

The role of the Legislative Assembly in law-making is to

Answer 7

• initiate and pass bills
• form government
• scrutinise government administration
• represent the people
• act as a house of review
• control government expenditure

Question 8

the role of the legislative assembly in law-making - initiate and pass bills

Answer 8

• The main function of the Legislative Assembly is to initiate new laws.
• New laws are usually introduced by a government minister, but any member may introduce a bill.
• Much of the Legislative Assembly’s work involves the consideration and debate of bills, which can be a lengthy process.

Question 9

the role of the legislative assembly in law-making - form government

Answer 9

• The political party with the most members in the Legislative Assembly forms the government.
• Most bills are initiated in the Legislative Assembly as government bills.
• These bills reflect the policies laid down by the Premier of Victoria and senior ministers.

Question 10

the role of the legislative assembly in law-making - scrutinise government administration

Answer 10

• Ministers must be members of parliament and are expected to be answerable and accountable for their actions.
• Ministers can be questioned by opposition members about their policies and proposed legislation during question time.
• Government decisions and legislative proposals are subject to parliamentary scrutiny, including through the committee system.

Question 11

the role of the legislative assembly in law-making - represent the people

Answer 11

• Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected to represent the interests of the people.
• Their actions in law-making should reflect the views and values of the people.
• If members do not represent their electorate’s views and values, they risk being voted out in the next election.

Question 12

the role of the legislative assembly in law-making - act as a house of review

Answer 12

the Legislative Assembly acts as a house of review in the law-making process when a bill has been initiated in and passed by the Legislative Council

Question 13

the role of the legislative assembly in law-making - control government expenditure

Answer 13

• For taxes to be collected or money to be spent, the bill must be introduced in the Legislative Assembly.
• The Legislative Assembly controls government expenditure as it is the only house that can initiate money bills.

Question 14

the legislative council

Answer 14

• The Legislative Council consists of 40 members.
• Victoria is divided into eight regions for the purpose of electing these members, with each region consisting of 11 electoral districts.
• Five members are elected from each region, serving a fixed four-year term.
• The primary role of the Legislative Council is to act as a house of review.
• It reviews bills that have already been passed by the Legislative Assembly.
• The Legislative Council can scrutinise, debate, and reject proposed legislation.
• This review process is an important part of the checking process in law-making.

Question 15

the roles of the legislative council in law-making

Answer 15

• act as a house of review
• initiate and pass bills
• scrutinise government administration

Question 16

the role of the legislative council in law-making - act as a house of review

Answer 16

• The role of the Legislative Council is similar to that of the Senate.
• It acts as a house of review for bills passed by the Legislative Assembly.
• The Legislative Council scrutinises, debates, and, on occasion, amends or rejects legislation initiated by the government.
• By performing these functions, the upper house applies important checks and balances in the law-making process.

Question 17

the role of the legislative council in law-making - initiate and pass bills

Answer 17

• Bills can be initiated in the Legislative Council, but this is less common than in the Legislative Assembly.
• The Legislative Council, like the Senate, cannot introduce money bills.
• Money bills must be debated and passed in the Legislative Assembly first.

Question 18

the role of the legislative council in law-making - scrutinise government administration

Answer 18

• Ministers who are members of the upper house can be questioned by opposition members about their policies and proposed legislation during question time.
• Government decisions can be scrutinised through the committee process in the upper house.