Table of Contents Chronology of Events .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 History- 1788 to 1900 .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Plenary ‘sovereign’ Parliaments ........................................................................................................................................ 5 History- Towards Federation- 1880 to 1990 ................................................................................................... 6 Federation (1901)...................................................................................................................................................... 7 Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (Imp) ...................................................................................... 7 Post Federation- 1901 to 1986 (Parliamentary Sovereignty) ................................................................... 8 ‘Balfour Declaration 1926’ [1.3.9E] .................................................................................................................................. 8 Statute of Westminster 1931 (UK) [1.3.11E] ................................................................................................................ 8 The Australia Acts ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 The Rule of Law........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Constitutional Conventions ................................................................................................................................. 10 Responsible Government ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Separation of Powers ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Federalism ................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Parliament & Legislative Procedures .............................................................................................................. 12 Terminology ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Parliament & Legislative Procedures (Commonwealth) .......................................................................... 13 Senate (Upper House) .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Composition ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Duration .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 House of Representatives ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Composition ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Duration .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Senate Representation by Territories ........................................................................................................................ 14 Membership ............................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Parliamentary Qualifications ........................................................................................................................................................... 15 Disqualification ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Disputed Elections ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Standard Procedure for Passing Legislation (Commonwealth) ............................................................. 16 1. House of Representatives stage ................................................................................................................................................. 17 2. Senate stage ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 3. Royal assent stage ............................................................................................................................................................................ 17 Standing Orders (Intramural processes) s50 ........................................................................................................................ 17 Double Dissolutions Triggers ....................................................................................................................................... 18 ‘Fails to pass’ ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Australian Constitution 1901 (Imp) s 57 Summary ............................................................................................... 20 Victoria v Commonwealth (1975)(the PMA Case) ................................................................................................................. 20 Cormac v Cope ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Western Australia v Commonwealth (territorial senators case) ................................................................................. 20 Restrictive Procedures (Cth) .............................................................................................................................. 21 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Question of Preamble ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 Senates Deferral of Supply ................................................................................................................................................. 22 Flaws in the drafting of s 53 ............................................................................................................................................................. 22 Non Compliance with Procedures and Form – “proposed laws”.......................................................................... 22 Section 53 ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Section 54 ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Non Compliance with Procedures and Form – “laws” s 55- Tax Bills ................................................................. 23 Section 55 ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Parliament & Legislative Procedures (Victoria).......................................................................................... 23 Legislative Assembly (Lower House) ............................................................................................................................. 24 Composition ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Duration .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Council (Upper House) .......................................................................................................................................................