Question

Difficulty: MediumLegislative Power (Parliament)

The Australian Constitution defines how the nation is governed by dividing power into three branches. According to the Constitution, which of the following is a required component of the Federal Parliament, in which the 'legislative power' is vested?

  1. The King, represented by the Governor-GeneralAnswer
  2. B
    The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
  3. C
    The Judges of the High Court of Australia

Answer

The King, represented by the Governor-General, is one of the three components of the Federal Parliament.
The Australian Constitution explicitly states that the Federal Parliament is composed of three parts: the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of Representatives. Together, these three parts hold the 'legislative power' to make laws for the Commonwealth.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the branch of government associated with 'legislative power' according to the Constitution.
Legislative power is vested in the Federal Parliament.
The Constitution specifically allocates the power to make and change laws to the Parliament.
2
Recall the constitutional composition of the Federal Parliament.
The Parliament consists of three parts: the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
Section 1 of the Australian Constitution defines these three components as the Parliament.
3
Evaluate the options against the three components of the Parliament.
The representative of the King is the only correct component listed.
The other options belong to different branches of government (Executive and Judiciary).

Key Concept

Composition of the Federal Parliament

Hints

1
Legislative power means the power to make laws. Think about which body makes laws in Australia.
2
The Federal Parliament is made up of three specific parts. Two are houses (Senate and House of Representatives), and one is a person representing the Monarchy.
3
The Governor-General plays a crucial role in the Parliament by giving Royal Assent to Bills passed by the two houses.

Practice More

Review the 'Separation of Powers' to understand how the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches interact.
Estimated Time:45s
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