elections

parliament

• aus elects cwth prlt directly but not PM + cabinet

• WC decides who forms govt.

• no minimum time between elections

• cx limits term of a prlt. to three years

• state + territory prlts have their own separate elections which are governed by their own electoral laws

  • WA has fixed 4yr parliamentary terms

  • prlt formed in the Leigslative Assembly wihich uses WC to form govt.

s24

• all members of HoR have max 3yr terms

• all 150 members must be re-elected every 3yrs

• each MHR represent people in their electorate which are created in proportion to their population

s7

• senators have 6yr terms

• half the senate elected every 3yrs alongside HoR

• senators represent people in states

• all states have = representation

  • 12 per state

  • 2 per territory

senate rotation

• feature of upper house elections

• ensures prlt. retains “elders” who have experience from past prlt.

• designed to provide continuity + stability in governance

• came from the US

calling elections

• < 3yrs after first sitting of prlt. PM must advise GG to dissolve HoR and issue writs for a general election

• s24 give GG power to carry out formalities but real power lies with PM as they decide when election is

• if there is a deadlock, PM can advise GG to dissolve both house and call for a double dissolution election as per s57

electoral systems

• a mechanism for choosing reps to occupy elected positions in a legislative assembly

• incl. electorates

  • basis of all electoral systems

  • geographical area containing many citizens who elect 1/more individuals to represent them in LA

  • can be single (HoR) or multi-member (senate)

• work by presenting electors w a choice of candidates on a ballot paper where they secretly express their preference for 1/more candidate —> ballots are collected + counted

• very important for RDs and can undermine principles of LD if done incorrectly

what makes a fair election (4)

• produces effective + stable govt that reflects freely expressed will of majority

• provides accountability of representatives who have direct links to electors which ensures the prlt. remains representative + responsible to electors

• are fair to electors, candidates + PPs

• represent societies diversity in gender, age, ethnicity, social values etc.

ideal electoral systems

• an ideal ES would achieve all four pints

• however, no system yet does this

• the best way to have an ES that is as close to the ideal as possible is to compromise between different types of electoral systems

2 categories of electoral systems

• majoritarian

• proportional

majoritarian

• always based on single-member electorates

• advantages

  • effective at achieving majority rule + strong representational links between MoP + constituents

• disadvantages

  • distort size of winner’s margin (winner’s bonus) in individual electorates + parlt.

  • reduce PP by minimising rep of minor parties

proportional

• always based on multi-member electorates

• advantages

  • effective at achieving fairness for PPs and rep of diversity

• disadvantages

  • undermine majority rule

  • weaken links between representatives + constituents

australian electoral compromise

• combines majoritarian + proportional systems to create an ‘ideal’ electoral system in bicameral parliaments

• used everywhere except QLD, ACT, NT, and Tas

compulsory voting

• the mandatory enrolment of eligible electors

• legislated by the Cwth Electoral Act 1924 which made voting compulsory for federal elections

compulsory voting advantages

• promotes populace to be more knowledgeable + aware of political rights

• increases legitimacy of election results

• drives PPs to focus on issues + policy making > mobilising citizens to vote

• more PP —> majority rule becoming more robust

compulsory voting disadvantages

• can skew results via donkey votes which are still counted

• can be seen as an affront to individual freedoms

the australian electoral commission

• an independent statutory authority responsible for upholding citizens right to vote

• est. 1918 by Cwth Electoral Act

• must have politically neutral employees

• responsible for elections, bi-elections, and referendums