Following a federal election for the 151 seats in the House of Representatives, the final results show that Party A has won 73 seats, Party B has won 71 seats, and Party C has won 7 seats. If Party B and Party C reach a formal agreement to work together and support a single leader, how is the Australian Government formed in this situation?
- The leader of the group formed by Party B and Party C is invited by the Governor-General to form a government because they can demonstrate the support of a majority in the House of Representatives.Answer
- BThe leader of Party A is automatically commissioned as Prime Minister by the Governor-General because the Australian Constitution requires the single party with the highest number of seats to lead the nation.
- CThe leader of the political party that holds the majority of seats in the Senate is invited to form the government, as the Senate is the Upper House and represents all Australian states and territories.
Answer
The leader of the group formed by Party B and Party C is commissioned by the Governor-General because they hold the majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
The correct answer describes the standard process where the Governor-General commissions the leader who can prove they have the support of a majority of the 151 members of the House of Representatives. In this scenario, although one party is the largest single entity, the combined support of the other two parties (78 seats) exceeds the 76-seat requirement for a majority.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Government is formed in the House of Representatives by the party or coalition with majority support.
Hints
1
Remember that forming a government is about having the most votes in the 'People's House' (the House of Representatives).
2
Calculate how many seats are needed for a majority out of 151. Does any group reach that number in this scenario?
3
Even if one party has 73 seats, if two other parties combine their 71 and 7 seats, they have 78. Think about who the Governor-General would ask to lead.
Practice More
Review the roles of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet once the government has been formed.
Estimated Time:1m 30s