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Difficulty: MediumThe House of Representatives (Lower House)

In the Australian parliamentary system, the House of Representatives is often referred to as the 'Lower House'. What determines the number of members elected to this house from each state and territory?

  1. A
    The geographical land area of the state or territory
  2. B
    An equal number of members from each state, which is currently twelve
  3. The number of people living in each state or territoryAnswer

Answer

The number of members elected to the House of Representatives is determined by the number of people living in each state or territory.
The correct answer is that the number of members is based on the population of each state or territory. Because the House of Representatives represents the people, Australia is divided into electorates, each containing roughly the same number of voters. This means states with more people have a higher number of members of parliament (MPs).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary role of the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives is intended to represent the people of Australia directly.
Understanding the 'representative' nature of the house helps determine the logic of its composition.
2
Differentiate between the representation logic of the two houses of Parliament.
The Senate represents states equally, while the House of Representatives represents electorates based on population.
This avoids the common mistake of applying Senate rules to the House of Representatives.
3
Conclude how members are allocated.
Australia is divided into electorates with roughly equal numbers of voters; therefore, states with higher populations contain more electorates and more members.
This confirms that population is the deciding factor.

Key Concept

Representation by population in the House of Representatives

Hints

1
Think about whether the 'Lower House' represents the states as equal entities or the people who live in them.
2
Recall that Australia is divided into 'electorates'. Are these electorates based on the size of the land or the number of voters?
3
The Senate gives 12 seats to every state, but the House of Representatives gives more seats to states with more residents.

Practice More

Review the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate, specifically focusing on the number of members and the color of each chamber.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The House of Representatives (Lower House)

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