In the Australian parliamentary system, if no single political party wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives after a federal election, how is the Australian Government typically formed?
- Two or more political parties join together to form a coalition that achieves a majority of seats.Answer
- BThe political party that holds the most seats in the Senate is invited to lead the government.
- CThe Governor-General personally selects senior members from different parties to form a temporary Cabinet.
Answer
The Australian Government is typically formed by two or more political parties joining together to form a coalition that achieves a majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
The correct answer reflects the standard process where parties with similar interests unite to form a coalition. This allows them to meet the requirement of holding more than half the seats in the House of Representatives, which is the constitutional necessity for forming a government.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The formation of the Australian Government depends on securing a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, either as a single party or a coalition.
Hints
1
Think about which house of Parliament is known as the 'peoples house' where the Prime Minister usually sits.
2
To 'form government,' a group needs more than half (a majority) of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives.
3
If one party only has 70 seats, they might team up with another party to reach 76 or more. What is this 'teaming up' called?
Practice More
Review the roles of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to understand how the government operates once it is formed.
Estimated Time:1m 15s