topic 1

Question 1

Structure of Victorian Parliament

Answer 1

Victoria: Legislative Assembly
Victoria: Legislative Council
Victoria: Governor

Question 2

Structure of Australian Parliament

Answer 2

Australia (Cth): House of Representatives
Australia (Cth): Senate
Australia (Cth): Governor General

Question 3

Process involved in making a law

Answer 3

First reading
Second reading
Consideration in detail
Third reading
First reading
Second reading -
Consideration in detail
Third reading
Royal assent

Question 4

First reading

Answer 4

The clerk reads out the title of the bill
No discussion, no vote

Question 5

Second reading

Answer 5

The member introducing the bill gives a speech outlining the need for the bill and key features of the bill
Other members may give a speech expressing their opinion of the bill
Members vote about whether to proceed with the bill

Question 6

Consideration in detail

Answer 6

The bill is reviewed in detail sentence by sentence, word by word
Amendments (changes) may be suggested, debated and recommended

Question 7

Third reading

Answer 7

One (final) vote on the bill
No debate

Question 8

Royal assent

Answer 8

A bill passed in the Upper (Second) House is presented to the Governor General / Governor in Executive Council for royal assent
Once signed by the Governor General / Governor, the bill becomes an Act of Parliament

Question 9

bill

Answer 9

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one.

Question 10

act

Answer 10

An Act is a statute or law passed by both Houses of Parliament that has received Royal Assent.

Question 11

Reasons why laws need to change

Answer 11

Change in policy
A new political party
pressure from outside
change in the world

Question 12

change in policy - example

Answer 12

Australian government decides to commit to zero emissions by 2050

Question 13

A new political party - example

Answer 13

wins an election, forms government and wants to change things
e.g. Labor replacing Liberal-National Coalition in Australia 2022, Biden replacing Trump in USA

Question 14

pressure from outside - example

Answer 14

media, lobby groups, public pressure through demonstrations, petitions, media, etc.

Question 15

change in the world - example

Answer 15

new technology requires new laws (illegal to drive while using mobile phone)

Question 16

Process for changing a law

Answer 16

The process for changing an existing law is exactly the same as the process when a new law is made

Question 17

Demonstrations – description

Answer 17

Protests and demonstrations are gatherings of groups of people who try to influence government policy or legislation
They can include speeches, marches, chanting
Protests and demonstrations can exert influence on the government

Question 18

demonstrations, purpose

Answer 18

To show exisitng support
Attract new support

Question 19

strength of demonstrations

Answer 19

Easy and cheap
Lots of media attention
Attracts new support

Question 20

weakness of demonstrations

Answer 20

Hard to attract people to go
If it becomes violent their will be negative attention
Parliament can ignore

Question 21

Role of VLRC

Answer 21

To make recommendations to Parliament on MAJOR areas of law reform referred to them by the Attorney-General**
VLRC cannot investigate these areas of major law reform without first being asked by the Attorney General

Make recommendations to Parliament on minor areas of law reform
VLRC can look at these smaller topics whenever they think it is appropriate or needed, VLRC does not have to wait for the A-G’s referral on minor topics

Question 22

Process used by VLRC

Answer 22

Attorney-General refers an issue or question about a major law reform to VLRC
VLRC does its research by collecting data, opinions and other information
VLRC completes its research
Reports its recommendations to the A-G
A-G shares the VLRC report in parliament
Government decides whether to change the law

Question 23

Meaning of balance of power

Answer 23

“Balance in power” means that no one person or group has too much control, ensuring fairness and accountability within parliament

Question 24

positives of balance of power

Answer 24

The government does not have too much power
views of more members of the community and members of parliament are represented

Question 25

negatives of balance of power

Answer 25

Even though the party is in charge they might not be able to do what they want
Not very democratic as parties with not many votes hold a lot of power

Question 27

three phases of the legislative process

Answer 27

• Must be passed by the Lower House (Legislative Assembly / House of Representatives)
• Passed by the upper house ( Legislative Council/ Senate)
• Kings representative

Question 28

what happens if slight changes are made to a bill in the upper house

Answer 28

For the bill to progress further, the House of Representatives or Legislative Assembly must consider the amendments and vote to decide if it agrees with them. ( retaking of the process )

Question 29

how political parties or individuals who hold the balance of power can affect the process of passing laws in the parliament

Answer 29

While minor parties have fewer members than major parties, they can hold the balance of power , along with independents. This means that their vote may affect the outcome of a decision if the government and opposition disagree but do not have enough members to win a vote by themselves.

Question 30

Lower commonwealth house

Answer 30

House of Representatives

Question 31

Lower victorian house

Answer 31

Legislative Assembly

Question 32

Upper Commonwealth house

Answer 32

Senate

Question 33

Upper Victorian House

Answer 33

Legislative Council