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Senate
Legislative
Council
House of
Representatives
Legislative
Assembly
Governorgeneral
Governor
Structure and Function
of Parliament
Victorian and Commonwealth
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The Australian Parliamentary
System

Constitutional Monarchy

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Representative democracy

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Monarch (Queen of UK)
Commonwealth Constitution
(Commonwealth Constitutional Act 1900
(UK))
Political government carried out by
elected representatives of the people
Federation of states

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The Commonwealth Parliament
Six state parliaments
Two territory parliaments
Commonwealth
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Bicameral system – two houses of
parliament
Upper House
Bicameral
System
Lower House
Commonwealth and all state parliaments excluding QLD and the
territories operate on a bicameral system
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Structure of Commonwealth
Parliament
Upper House
Commonwealth
Parliament
Queens
Representative
Governorgeneral
Senate
Lower House
House of
Representatives
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Structure of House of
Representatives (Lower House)

150 members of the House

Elected every 3 years

Each member represents a
division of Australia

Majority of the House forms
government
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Role of House of Representatives
(Lower House)

Initiates and makes laws

Determines the government (majority
forms government)

Provides responsible government

Represents the people (acts as a people’s
house)

Politicises and scrutinises government
administration

Controls government expenditure
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Structure of Senate (Upper House)

76 Senators

Elected every 6 years (half
elected every 3 years)

Each member represents a
state or territory
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Each state has 12 Senators

Each territory has 2 Senators
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Role of the Senate (Upper House)

Initiates and passes Bills (other than
money Bills)
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Represents the states (acts as a
states’ house)
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Acts as a house of review

Scrutinises legislation (checks all
Bills and delegated legislation)
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Operates as a check on government
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Role of the Crown (Governorgeneral)

Gives or withholds royal assent to
Bills

Appoints an executive council
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Federal level: made up of prime minister
and senior ministers
State level: premier and senior ministers

Can make delegated legislation
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Has reserve powers
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Power to appoint or dismiss a
premier/prime minister or minister
Power to dissolve the lower house
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Structure of the Victorian
Parliament
Upper House
Victorian
Parliament
Queen’s
Representative
Governor
Legislative
Council
Lower House
Legislative
Assembly
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Structure of Legislative Assembly
(Lower House)

88 members

Elected every 4 years
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Each member represents a district of Victoria
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Majority forms government
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Role of Legislative Assembly
(Lower House)

Initiates and makes laws

Determines the government

Represents the people of Victoria

Provides responsible
government
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Structure of Legislative Council
(Upper House)

40 members

Elected every 4 years

Each member represents a region of Victoria

8 regions in Victoria

5 members per region
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Role of Legislative Council (Upper
House

Initiates and passes Bills (other than money Bills)

Represents the regions of Victoria

Acts as a house of review

Scrutinises legislation

Operates as a check on government
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Role of the Crown (Governor)

Gives or withholds royal assent to Bills

Appoints an executive council

Federal level: made up of prime minister and
senior ministers

State level: premier and senior ministers

Can make delegated legislation

Has reserve powers

Power to appoint or dismiss a premier/prime
minister or minister

Power to dissolve the lower house