Independents and members of minority parties have a better chance of election to the Senate than the House of Representatives because a different electoral system is used. In Senate elections, a system called proportional representation voting secures the election of a number of candidates, each of whom has obtained a required quota or proportion of votes necessary for election.
The quota is worked out by dividing the total number of formal votes in the election by one more than the number of places available for election No one candidate needs to obtain a majority of votes, as is the case in House of Representative elections.
Votes received in excess of the quota by successful candidates are redistributed to those candidates who have been ranked second by the voters on the excess ballot papers. If insufficient candidates reach a quota after this distribution, the preferences of voters for the least successful candidates are progressively distributed until enough candidates reach a quota to fill the available seats. Independents and members of minority parties, who would not hope to receive enough first votes to achieve a quota, are usually elected on the preferences of voters who gave their first vote to another candidate.
This method of electing senators to the Australian Parliament results in a representation which more closely reflects the wishes of voters than that used by the House of Representatives. In the election for example, the Australian Democrats received They received 6.
Proportional representation is designed to ensure that the number of seats won is in proportion to the number of votes received. What happens if a senator resigns or dies before his or her term expires? When a casual vacancy occurs in the Senate, on the resignation or death of a senator, a new senator is appointed by the parliament of the state which the former senator represented. If the state or territory parliament is not sitting, an appointment can be made by the Governor of the state or in the case of an Australian Capital Territory senator, the Governor-General, or the Administrator in the case of the Northern Territory and the appointment is confirmed by the parliament when next it assembles.
In order that the Senate continue to preserve the representation of parties in the Senate as determined by the electors, the new senator must be of the same political party or group as the senator he is replacing.
It is a matter of contention whether this means that the appointee must be the nominee of the political party or whether it suffices that he or she is a member of that party.
How is the President of the Senate elected? When the position of President of the Senate becomes vacant, the election of a President is given priority over other Senate business. It begins with a senator proposing to the Clerk, who acts as chairman, that a senator who is present be President of the Senate. If no other senator is proposed, that Senator is called to the chair and becomes President. When two or more senators are proposed as President, a secret ballot is conducted.
Each senator is provided with a ballot paper on which to write the name of a candidate, and if one candidate receives a majority of the votes of the senators present he or she is declared elected. If, in the case of two candidates, the vote is tied, the vote is taken again; and if they are still tied, the Clerk determines by lot which candidate should be withdrawn. Where there are more than two candidates and no-one receives a majority of votes on the first count, the candidate having the smallest number of votes withdraws and a fresh vote is taken.
The office of President of the Senate is conventionally taken by a member of the party which holds a majority in the House of Representatives the government , while the Deputy President is a member of the largest opposition party. How can I contact my local Member?
The Contacting Senators and Members website provides information on elected parliamentarians, including their contact details. How do I find out about the work of the House? Infosheet No. How do I get my petition before the House and what will happen to it after it is presented? See Infosheet No. What are the sitting times of the House?
The sitting times of the House of Representatives are set out in its standing orders. See also the order of business. What are the standing and sessional orders? The standing orders are the formal rules of procedure adopted by the House to regulate its proceedings. The sessional orders are formal temporary rules of procedure which in most cases expire at the end of a session, usually when the House is dissolved for a general election.
What is a quorum? A quorum is the minimum number of Members who must be present to constitute a meeting of the House. What is the House doing? When is the House sitting? To see when the House is scheduled to sit, check the sitting calendar.
Where can I find information on the parliamentary international program? Where can I find more information about the House of Representatives and the Parliament? The House has a series of infosheets that provide information on the House. Seminars are conducted on the operations of the House, which are open to anyone on payment of a fee. Where can I get a copy of legislation? Members - Home. Members and Roles.
Related Information. Participate - Home. About the House - Home. Transparency and accountability. Arts and Heritage. In pictures. Employment - Home. Career opportunities. Youth Opportunities. Working at the House.
Search Search. Table of Contents. Home Page. Introductory Pages. Parliamentary Institutions. Parliaments and Ministries. They also need to read and digest detailed research on specific topics done for them by personal or parliamentary staff.
Parliamentary or party committee work may require more reading and research in relatively specialised areas. Another major parliamentary occupation is speaking. Making speeches in the Chamber is the role with which the general observer is most familiar and which probably attracts the most publicity, although in fact other tasks such as office work or committee work may take much more time.
While at Parliament House Members also spend time talking with colleagues, Members from other parties, journalists, visitors, lobbyists and the parliamentary staff who administer the operations of the House. A key aspect of communication for a Member is keeping constituents informed of developments in government or party policy and the implications of government decisions and activity. Members also spend a great deal of time communicating on behalf of their constituents—by taking up the cases of individuals or by relaying the concerns of electors generally to the government or to their parties.
Parliamentary committee work. Depending on the inquiry topic, much of this work is done away from Canberra. The committees set up by the House including some set up jointly with the Senate which also has its own committees investigate matters of public policy, examine the activities of government and make recommendations for change.
Committees are given wide powers of investigation. They are valuable vehicles for the receiving and giving of information and provide a direct link between Members and the Australian community. Each parliamentary committee consists of both government and non-government Members. Most Members of Parliament, except Ministers and some of the principal office holders, serve on committees.
Backbench Members are generally members of more than one committee. Committee work is an important part of the duties of Members and makes considerable demands on their time. A committee inspection during an inquiry. As well as attending meetings, public hearings and inspections, in order to make a contribution to the work of a committee, a Member must spend time studying the subject matter of the inquiry.
The demands are greater on those Members who are committee chairs because they must lead the work of their committees and be the spokesperson for their work. Committee meetings are held in Canberra both when the House is meeting and at other times, and most committees also hold hearings, public meetings or informal discussions in a number of places throughout the country. At the conclusion of their investigations committees present a report to the House which may spend time debating it.
At a later time the government provides the House and the committee concerned with a response to the recommendations made by the committee. For further information on House of Representatives committees see Infosheet No. Political Parties. Nearly all Members belong to a political party—very few of the Members of the House are Independents i. Members are expected to contribute to the development and amendment of the policies of the party to which they belong.
Full coordinates for individual Members of Parliament, including constituencies, are available at Addresses for Current Members of Parliament. Parliamentary Business Parliamentary Business - Home.
The House. Procedural Reference Material Library of Parliament. Parliamentary Diplomacy. Members - Home. Members and Roles. Related Information. Participate - Home.
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