Parliament And The Legislative Process Notes

PARLIAMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Parliament = all elected representatives = the legislature * Parliament can be divided into two houses Bicameral systems Unicameral systems Commonwealth Qld * Upper: Senate * Lower: House of Representatives * Legislative Assembly (the Legislative Council abolished in 1922) NT, ACT NSW, Vic, WA, Tas, SA * * Upper: Legislative Council * Lower: Legislative Assembly (in Tas & SA called the House of Assembly) Legislative Assembly Parliament a? entire body of elected representatives Government a? ruling part of elected representatives LEGISLATIVE ARM Makes the law Government EXECUTIVE ARM Administers the law Courts JUDICIAL ARM Adjudicates the law Judges PAGE 21 Role of Parliament: * make laws for good governance of Australia ( or the state) o States have plenary powers * mandate o calling from the people, to fulfil their promises * Legislative 'arm' o separation of powers * role of the whole of parliament * authority to make laws derived from the Constitution * separate from other functions/arms of good governance * why do we accept these laws? o voters elect representatives to parliament o representatives usually aligned to political parties o political party with majority forms government o therefore, government represents "majority" view PAGE 22

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