1. OVERVIEW, KEY TERMS AND HISTORY
Overview of Parliament; Key terms relevant to parliament and the political system; Parliamentary History.
2. FUNCTIONS OF PARLIAMENT
Make and breaking governments; representing the electorate; representing the States; legislating; monitoring the executive; controlling public expenditure; forum for debate; expression of grievances.
3. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Roles and functions; membership; data on legislative activity;
4. SENATE
The Australian Senate is one of the most powerful upper houses of any parliament in the world. With equal representation of the States, a proportional voting system that allows minority parties to win seats, the Senate is rarely controlled by the Government or the Opposition.
5. FIRST/MAIDEN SPEECHES
Links to recent and some historical maiden speeches by new members of parliament.
6. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, RULES & OCCASIONS
Standing Orders; arcane rituals and curiously named people; rules of debate.
7. LEGISLATING / LAW-MAKING
How legislation is made, passed and implemented; examples of legislation.
8. PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Question Time; Questions Without Notice.
9. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
House committees; Senate committees; Joint committees; Select committees; Standing committees.
10. HANSARD
The official verbatim record of everything that is said in Parliament.
11. THE OPPOSITION
The second major group in Parliament; Alternative prime minister; criticism; alternative policies.
12. BACKBENCHERS
House backbenchers; Senate backbenchers; roles, power and influence.
13. THE SPEAKER
Presiding officer in the House of Representatives; President of the Senate; role, power and independence.
14. DEADLOCKS AND DOUBLE DISSOLUTIONS
Parliamentary deadlocks between the House and Senate; double dissolutions.
15. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM
Sitting times; debate rules; Senate powers; an independent Speaker.
Archived Posts
- 25th Anniversary Of Opening Of New Parliament House May 9, 2013
- Queen’s Speech At State Opening Of U.K. Parliament May 8, 2013
- ALP Leadership Spill: Live Blog March 21, 2013
- Seven Former Politicians Awarded Australia Day Honours: Downer, Uren Receive AC January 26, 2013
- Malcolm Turnbull: “It Has Never Been Easier To Get Away With Telling Lies” December 27, 2012
- Rob Oakeshott Responds To Gerard Henderson On Minority Government December 19, 2012
- Dealing With Craig Thomson: An Impressive MPI Debate May 22, 2012
- Wilkie: Improper For Parliament To Be Judge & Jury In Thomson Case May 21, 2012
- So Much For Parliament In Queensland April 4, 2011
- Greens Sign Agreement To Support Gillard September 1, 2010
- Dissolutions, Prorogations and a Mea Culpa July 19, 2010
- Pollie Wants To Twitter? May 26, 2010
- Wayne Swan’s 2008 Post-Budget Address to the National Press Club May 14, 2008
- 2008-09 Federal Budget: Full Text Of Treasurer’s Speech May 13, 2008
- Kevin Rudd’s Opening Address to the 2020 Summit April 19, 2008
- Full Text Of Official Apology To Stolen Generations February 12, 2008
- Arse-Licking Hypocrisy June 26, 2002
- Governor-General’s Speech Opening The 40th Parliament February 12, 2002
- Victorian Parliament To Be Venue For Commemorative Federation Sitting May 10, 2000
- New Parliament House Opened By The Queen May 9, 1988
- Governor-General’s Speech Opening Parliament: 1987 September 14, 1987
- Governor-General’s Speech Opening Parliament: 1983 April 21, 1983
