In the Australian federal system, the election process and the frequency of parliamentary renewal are governed by specific constitutional provisions. During a standard general election (not a double dissolution), which of the following correctly describes the constitutional status of the two houses regarding their dissolution?
- The Governor-General dissolves the House of Representatives to initiate the election, while the Senate remains a continuing body where typically only half of the state senators are up for election.Answer
- BThe Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) dissolves both the House of Representatives and the Senate every years to ensure that the entire Parliament is renewed simultaneously.
- CThe Prime Minister dissolves the House of Representatives at the end of its -year term, while the Senate is never subject to dissolution because its members are appointed for life by the King.
Answer
The correct answer states that the Governor-General dissolves the House of Representatives, while the Senate is a continuing body where only half of the state senators are typically elected during a general election.
The correct answer accurately distinguishes between the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the continuity of the Senate. In the Australian system, the Governor-General is the only authority with the constitutional power to dissolve the House. Unlike the House, the Senate is a continuing body where members serve fixed -year terms, with half of the state positions coming up for election every years during the general election process.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Constitutional Dissolution and Staggered Terms
Hints
1
Think about which houses are dissolved when the Prime Minister calls an election and who has the formal power to do so.
2
Recall that Senators have terms that are twice as long as the maximum term of the House of Representatives ( years versus years).
3
The Senate is often called a 'continuing body' because it is never fully dissolved except in very rare 'double dissolution' circumstances.
Practice More
Research the rare 'double dissolution' process to see how it differs from the standard election process described here.
Alternative Method
One can remember the process by noting that 'dissolving' a house ends its sitting; since the Senate is rotating, it cannot be fully dissolved while maintaining its -year staggered terms.
Estimated Time:3m 0s