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Difficulty: MediumThe Senate

The Australian Federal Parliament consists of the King (represented by the Governor-General), the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Which of the following best describes a key role of the Senate?

  1. To represent the interests of all states and territories and to review bills passed by the House of Representatives.Answer
  2. B
    To serve as the house where the political party or coalition with the most members forms the Australian Government.
  3. C
    To act as an independent body responsible for organizing elections and maintaining the electoral roll.

Answer

The Senate represents the interests of the states and territories and acts as a 'House of Review' for legislation passed by the House of Representatives.
The correct answer is correct because the Senate is designed to represent the states and territories equally and to act as a 'House of Review' by scrutinizing and debating bills that have already been passed by the House of Representatives.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the components of the Federal Parliament.
The Parliament consists of the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
Understanding the structure is the first step in identifying the roles of each part.
2
Distinguish between the roles of the two houses.
The House of Representatives is where the government is formed, while the Senate is the 'Upper House' or 'House of Review'.
This separation of roles ensures that laws are thoroughly debated and that the interests of all states are considered.
3
Evaluate the specific function of the Senate.
The Senate provides a 'second look' at bills and ensures equal representation for the states (12 senators each) and territories (2 senators each).
This fulfills its purpose as a check on the power of the government formed in the lower house.

Key Concept

The Role of the Senate in the Australian Parliament

Hints

1
Think about why the Senate is often called the 'House of Review'.
2
Consider which house is responsible for representing states equally, regardless of their population size.
3
The Senate does not form the government; it reviews the laws proposed by the house where the government is formed.

Practice More

Review the number of senators elected from each state versus each territory to understand how representation is balanced.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The Senate

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