In the Australian federal parliament, a bill that originated in and was passed by the Senate is subsequently sent to the House of Representatives. During the 'consideration in detail' stage in the House, members vote to amend (change) part of the bill's text. If the House of Representatives then passes this amended bill, what is the next requirement for it to become a law?
- The amended bill must be returned to the Senate so that both houses can agree on the exact same text.Answer
- BThe bill is sent directly to the Governor-General for Royal Assent, as it has already been passed by both houses.
- CThe Prime Minister must sign the bill to resolve the differences between the Senate and House versions.
Answer
The amended bill must be returned to the Senate so that both houses can agree on the exact same text.
In the Australian federal parliamentary system, the Constitution requires that both the House of Representatives and the Senate pass a bill in exactly the same form. If the House of Representatives makes changes (amendments) during the 'consideration in detail' stage to a bill that the Senate has already passed, the bill is not yet ready for the final step. It must be sent back to the Senate so that the senators can consider the new changes. Only when both houses are in complete agreement on every word of the bill can it be sent to the Governor-General for Royal Assent.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Bicameral Agreement and the Identical Text Requirement
Hints
1
Consider what must happen if two different groups of people pass slightly different versions of the same rule.
2
Remember that the Australian Parliament is bicameral, and both the 'Upper' and 'Lower' houses have equal importance in the final text of a law.
Practice More
Research what happens if the two houses continue to disagree on a bill for a long time, leading to a 'Double Dissolution'.
Estimated Time:2m 0s