9.3 Law-Making by Parliament and Courts

legislature

a legal term used to describe the body having the primary power to make law (i.e parliament)

bill

a proposed law that has been presented to Parliament to become law. Becomes an Act of Parliament once it has passed through all formal stage of law-making

royal assent

formal signing and approval of a bill by the Govenor-General or Govenor, after which, the bill becomes an Act of Parliament

judiciary

legal trm used to describe judges as a group as well as the courts as an institution (ie. one of the 3 branches of government)

statutory interpretation

process by which judges give meaning to the words or phrases in an Act of Parliament so it can be applied to resolve the case before them

law reform

the process of constantly updating and changing the law so it remains relevant and effective

bodies that make australia’s laws

• Parliament

• The Courts

how do courts make law through statutory interpretation

• judges clarify the meanig and words in acts

• can create new legal principles

cabinet

(senior government ministers)

helps shape government policy and decides which law changes should introduced to parliament