Why are there 9 parliaments in australia

It was generally accepted throughout the conventions of and —8 that the Senate should be able to initiate and amend any type of bill except a money bill, and that it should be able to reject any bill. Governments were formed and removed in accordance with the party numbers in that house. The other chamber, the unelected House of Lords, played no part in that process. In particular, it could not originate or amend money bills. This was a matter of convention until it was made a matter of law in Money bills lie at the heart of government.

Taxation bills raise revenue and appropriation bills authorise the government to spend that revenue. If the necessary revenue is not raised by the Parliament, or if the authorisation to spend revenue on proposed activities is not given by the Parliament, the proposed activities cannot be undertaken by the government. Ultimately then, the power to originate and amend money bills is the power to control the activities of the government. The problem for the delegates at the and —8 conventions was as follows.

In Australia, the adoption of full British responsible government would have meant making the government responsible solely to the House of Representatives.

Delegates from the larger colonies argued that this could only occur if that house, like the House of Commons, possessed the exclusive power to originate and amend money bills and, consequently, the exclusive power to control the activities of government. In support of their demands for British responsible government, the delegates emphasised that most of the members of the House of Representatives would come from the larger states whose taxpayers would provide most of the revenue for the activities of the government.

No body of people outnumbering the population of the smaller States as they do would put up with their dictation on such a matter as the expenditure of their money. Convention Debates, Adelaide, 13 April On the other side, Sir John Forrest of Western Australia, protested that, if the power to amend money bills was not granted to the Senate:.

He and other delegates from the smaller colonies feared that the proposed federal government could act to the detriment of their states unless the Senate, most of whose members would come from the smaller states, possessed this power. To grant the Senate the power to amend money bills would, however, have given it constitutional powers in relation to the government nearly the equal to those possessed by the House of Representatives.

As many delegates from both large and small colonies recognised, this would make the government responsible to both houses of Parliament. Deadlocks on money bills would inevitably arise, during which the government would be paralysed.

The delegates to the convention responded to this dilemma in two ways. First, they did not mandate responsible government. Government ministers could be, but were not required to be, members of Parliament. The way was left open for the development of a system closer to that existing in the United States of America, where the President who heads the government and his Ministers appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate are not members of Congress, and the President governs for a fixed term of four years irrespective of whether the party he or she belongs to possesses a majority of seats in either or both Houses of Congress.

The federal government raises money through taxing incomes, spending and businesses. The money is spent on federal matters such as: Medicare, defence, immigration, foreign policy. The money is spent on state matters such as: roads, prisons, housing, public transport, police and ambulance services. Local councils collect taxes rates from all local property owners and receives money from the federal and state governments.

The money is spent on local matters such as: town planning, rubbish collection, water and sewage, dog registration and local roads. The federal executive - the Prime Minister and ministers - is the main decision-making body of the Australian Government and is responsible for putting federal laws into action.

It also makes sure laws provide Australians with the services they need. If a minister needs to introduce a new law or change an existing one, they must first get the approval of the federal executive.

The minister then works with their government department to prepare the bill - proposed law - before it is considered by the Parliament. The executive government needs money to put laws into action. It raises money by collecting taxes on incomes and company profits, and through other charges such as fuel excise and customs duties. Once a year the Treasurer delivers the Budget to Parliament, which explains how the government will raise and spend this money. The government must gain approval for its Budget from Parliament.

It does this by asking Parliament to pass a series of bills called Appropriation Bills. Ministers manage the share of the Budget that has been given to the department they are responsible for.

They use this money to administer the laws and programs that fall within their portfolio. The executive government also gives revenue - money - collected through the tax on goods and services GST to the states and territories to help fund their delivery of services.

States and territories also have executive governments; there are 6 state and 2 territory executive governments. State executive governments are made up of a premier and state ministers. Territory executive governments are made up of a chief minister and territory ministers.

These ministers are elected members of the state or territory parliament, and come from the party or coalition of parties that forms government in the lower house. State and territory executives decide on policy and new laws, including how to put state or territory laws into action. State and territory executive governments get about half their money, including their share of the goods and services tax GST , from the federal executive government.

They also raise money from taxes and charges such as:. The states and territories spend this money to manage laws and to provide goods and services to the people of their state or territory. State and territory ministers, like federal ministers, manage the budget given to the government department they are responsible for.

Elected councillors decide on policy and make by-laws for their community at council meetings. These decisions are then administered - put in place - by the chief executive officer and other non-elected employees of the council. Local governments receive part of their income in grants from federal, state and territory executive governments. Councils also raise their own money from local taxes such as rates - tax on the value of property - sewerage and water charges, dog licences and user fees for sporting facilities and libraries.

Since federation some rulings made by the High Court of Australia have strengthened the law-making powers of the federal Parliament.

The High Court can resolve disagreements between the federal and state governments over their law-making powers. If a law is contested - challenged - it is up to the High Court to determine whether the Constitution gives the relevant parliament the power to make this law. A law judged by the High Court to be unconstitutional is then invalid - over-ruled.

The states' reliance on federal government funding to pay for activities such as schools and hospitals has also shifted the federal-state balance. Federal funding grants make up about half of the states' total revenue. Under section 96 of the Constitution, the federal Parliament can 'grant financial assistance to any State on such terms and conditions as Parliament thinks fit'. This allows the federal government to give 'tied' grants to state governments, directing the state government on how to spend the money.

The federal government can then influence the way things are done in areas such as education, health, housing and transport, which are primarily state responsibilities.

The law-making powers of the federal Parliament have also grown to deal with the huge social and technological advances that have occurred since federation. As Australian society has changed, so too have the issues facing federal Parliament. For instance, the drafters of the Constitution could not have foreseen how the digital revolution has impacted the way we live, work and communicate. In there were only 33 telephones in Australia and no radio, television, computers or internet. Today the federal Parliament makes laws about all of these services.

Some of the first assemblies which had elements similar to those of modern parliaments were held in ancient Greece and Rome. The Ecclesia met 40 times a year and was attended by male citizens who had completed their military training.

Decisions were made by a show of hands, or voting with stones or pieces of pottery. The Roman Republic, which was founded around BC, was ruled by 2 elected Consuls, who acted on the advice of the Senate—the council of elders.

The Senate comprised members from wealthy and noble families. Laws were approved by various assemblies, who represented the nobles and common people. These assemblies did not write new laws but met to vote on laws and elect officials. Locations of the origins of the concepts of parliament. Attribution — you must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work.

Waiver — any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder. The Witenagemot - Witan - dates back to the eighth century and advised the monarch on matters such as royal grants of land, taxation, defence and foreign policy.

Witan comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase Witana Gemot , which means 'meeting of the wise men'. The Witan did not have a permanent membership but was made up of advisors and nobles who met when called by the monarch.

Although the Witan had no power to make laws, the monarch was careful to consult the assembly because they relied on the support of the nobles to rule. In William the Conqueror invaded Britain. William ruled with the help of a much smaller but permanent group of advisers known as the Curia Regis - King's Council. It consisted of noblemen and church leaders appointed by the King. They were not elected and so did not formally represent anyone. Like the Witan, which it replaced, the Curia Regis only offered advice at the King's request and he did not have to act on this advice.

The King sometimes consulted a larger group of nobles and churchmen known as the Magnum Concilium - Great Council. Over time, the Great Council evolved into the House of Lords.

The moots were local assemblies held in each county and shire to discuss local issues and hear legal cases. They were made up of local lords, bishops, the sheriff and 4 representatives from each village. The practice of local representatives making decisions for their community eventually led to the creation of the House of Commons. King John sits at a table and is signing a document with a quill.

He wears a crown and docorated robes. Knights, carrying shields and wearing armour, and members of the clergy crowd around him. In the early 13th century King John of England waged a long and drawn-out war with France, which was largely funded by taxing the feudal barons. Under feudal law, the King granted the barons land—fiefdoms. In exchange he demanded money and troops. This meant the barons had to impose taxes on the people in their fiefdoms.

The King's use of the justice system to suppress his opponents had also caused widespread discontent. In the barons rebelled, fed up with King John's demands and his failure to consult them. It limited the King's power by making him subject to the law , not above it. The Magna Carta also confirmed feudal customs and the operation of the justice system, and recognised that the barons had a right to be consulted and to advise the King in the Great Council.

While most of the Magna Carta described the division of power between the King and the barons, it also made reference to the rights of individuals. One of the most celebrated sections is credited with establishing the principle of a right to a fair trial.

It states:. This declaration of individual rights has been seen as an important step towards the development of democracy , and has influenced documents such as the Australian Constitution and the American Bill of Rights.

In an assembly between the English monarch and his advisors was described as a parliament for the first time. Many of the barons were unhappy with Henry's rule, including his failed military campaigns in France and his choice of advisers and allies.

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