In the Australian parliamentary system, the two houses have different election cycles to ensure stability and continuity. While members of the House of Representatives are elected for a maximum of three years, for how many years is a senator representing an Australian state normally elected to serve?
- AThree years
- Six yearsAnswer
- CFour years
Answer
Senators representing the six Australian states are elected for a term of six years.
The correct answer is six years because the Australian Constitution establishes this specific term length for senators representing the six states. This staggered cycle means that only half of the state senators are usually up for election every three years, helping the Senate function as a stable 'House of Review'.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The term of office for senators in the Australian Parliament
Hints
1
Think about why the Senate is called a 'House of Review'—it is designed to be more stable than the House of Representatives.
2
The term for a state senator is exactly double the length of the maximum term for a member of the House of Representatives.
3
Members of the House of Representatives serve for 3 years; state senators serve for 6.
Practice More
Review how territory senators differ from state senators in their term lengths and how they are elected.
Estimated Time:45s