Question

Difficulty: MediumHow Laws are Made (Legislative Process)

A new law concerning federal taxes is being proposed in the Australian Parliament. If the House of Representatives votes in favor of this proposal, what is the next mandatory step in the legislative process before it can be sent to the Governor-General for Royal Assent?

  1. The proposal must be debated and passed by the SenateAnswer
  2. B
    The proposal must be reviewed and approved by the High Court of Australia
  3. C
    The proposal must be approved by a majority of voters in a national referendum

Answer

The proposal must be debated and passed by the Senate
In the Australian federal parliamentary system, a bill (a proposal for a new law) must be debated and passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Only after both houses have agreed to the bill can it be sent to the Governor-General to receive Royal Assent and officially become an Act of Parliament.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the current stage of the legislative process.
The proposal (bill) has successfully passed the House of Representatives.
To determine what constitutional requirement remains before the bill reaches the Head of State.
2
Apply the rule of the bicameral parliamentary system.
A bill must be approved by both the Lower House (House of Representatives) and the Upper House (Senate).
The Australian Constitution requires both houses of Parliament to agree on a bill before it can become law.
3
Distinguish between ordinary legislation and constitutional changes.
The bill goes to the Senate, not to a public referendum or the High Court.
Public referendums are specifically for constitutional amendments, and the High Court handles judicial review rather than law-making.

Key Concept

Bicameral Legislative Process

Hints

1
Think about the two 'houses' that make up the Australian Parliament.
2
Australia has a House of Representatives and a Senate. Both must agree on a bill.
3
If a bill has finished its journey in the Lower House, it must move to the Upper House next.

Practice More

Review the different roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the legislative process.
Estimated Time:45s
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