The People and the Law-Makers

parliament

a group of elected representatives who make laws for society on behalf of the people who voted them in

bicameral

a parliament that operates with both houses

commonwealth - lower house

House of Representatives

commonwealth - upper house

senate

king’s representative - commonwealth

governor general

Victorian - lower house

legislative assembly

victorian - upper house

legislative council

victorian - king’s representative

governor

lower house - roles

• determine government

• initiate and make laws

• provide responsible government

• represent the people

• control government expenditure

upper house - roles

• initiate and make laws

• act as a house of review

• state’s house

king’s representative - roles

• royal assent

• appoint and head the executive council

• reserve powers

division of powers

the splitting up of law-making responsibility between the Commonwealth and the states

residual powers

• not stated in the Constitution

• states

concurrent powers

• stated in constitution

• shared by commonwealtha and states

exclusive powers

• only for Commonwealth

section 109

when a law of the state is inconsistent with a law of the Commonwealth, the latter shall prevail, and the former shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be invalid