Representative &

Responsible
Government
Representative
Government
There are eight key features of representative
government
Representative government extends beyond
allowing Australians the right to vote and to
stand as candidates for parliament
The existence of an elected parliament is no
guarantee there will be a democratic state
Eight Features
Rule of Law
Universal Franchise
Regular Elections
One vote/one value and the secret ballot
Salaries for Members of Parliament
Parliamentary Privilege
Right to protest, freedoms of association and
political communication
Open parliamentary debates
Rule of Law
Citizens must be considered equal before the law
when they vote or stand for election
Strict rules are essential to regulate the electoral
process and how parliament makes laws to
uphold the rights of all citizens
Universal Franchise
All individuals must be allowed the freedom to vote
regardless of their cultural background, race, sex or
belief system
There must not be any barriers imposed to stop an
individual, or group in society from voting
Voting is compulsory in federal and state elections
Australia-wide
When a section of the community is disenfranchised,
laws created have the tendency to neglect their
values and interests
Regular Elections
It is essential that the peoples elected
representatives are held accountable to the
voters at regular elections
The longer a tenure in parliament lasts, the more
likelihood that MPs will act unilaterally and
ignore the wishes of the people who voted for
them
One Vote/One Value & the
Secret Ballot
Every vote (ballot) cast should have no more
value than any other
If this principle is distorted, governments can be
formed that do not reflect a majority of support in
the community
Voting should be conducted in private to prevent
the chance of intimidation or pressure from
others
Salaries for Members of
Parliament
Politicians must be entitled to a salary for their
role of being accountable to the community
If payment does not occur, working class people
could be denied the opportunity of standing for
parliament to represent working people
Parliamentary Privilege
A full and frank debate on all issues before
parliament is essential to ensure that laws are
made with all information being made available
for consideration
Right to Protest, Freedoms of Association and
Political Communication
The right to peaceful protest, association and
expression must be protected by law
These freedoms, ideas and debates are
essential to uphold the democratic process

Open Parliamentary
Debate
Australians must have access to parliamentary
sittings to make their own judgments about the
workings of the law making body and the
standard of representation they are receiving as
a member of the community
Responsible Government
There are FOUR key principles of responsible
government
Responsible Government is based on the British
Westminster system of parliamentary democracy
A large elected parliament will meet to debate
issues and make laws
A separate unelected executive body will
administer and enforce laws made in the
parliament
Key Principles
Accountability
Exercise of Executive Power
Role of the Senate
Miscellaneous conventions of responsible
government
Accountability
Relationship between the legislature and
executive arms of law
Ministers of the Crown can only be chosen from members of
parliament
Ministers of Government must also be elected members of
the parliament.
This system has been codified in State and Commonwealth
constitutions under the British Westminster system
Because of this, Australia does not have a complete
separation of powers as the executive arm of law is formed in
the legislative arm, and therefore held directly accountable to
it for the executive decisions is makes
Exercise of Executive
Power
The GG must exercise his/her executive powers
on the advice of the current Prime Minister
The GG is obliged to accept the advice of the PM
provided that three conditions exist:
1. The PM + government commands majority
support in the house of representatives
2. The PM can guarantee the passage of supply
Bills through parliament
3. The PMs advice is aligned with the constitution
Role of the Senate
The Senate is expected by constitutional
convention to pass the supply Bills of the
Government so that it is able to adequately
govern the nation
However, section 53 of the Commonwealth
Constitution does not prohibit this
Miscellaneous Conventions of
Responsible Government
The PM is the head of Government and must sit
in the House of Representatives to the right of
the Speaker
The Speaker has unlimited access to the GG so
that he/she can identify which party leader has
confidence of the House
Ministers can sit in both Houses on the front
benches to the right of the presiding offices
The HCA is independent and cannot give legal
advice to the government
Responsible Government
and Accountability
Every detail of a ministers public performance is
subject to scrutiny by parliament
This scrutiny occurs ate Question time, grievance
debates and general debating stages of Bills
Cabinet (government) meets privately and
deliberations are confidential
Cabinet solidarity is important because the
government wants to display unity as well as
preserve the confidence of its backbenchers so
that it can govern for its full term