Glossary

(see also simple majority)
More than half the votes of the total number of members of the House of Representatives or the Senate.

In Parliament, to choose not to vote.

To be responsible for one's actions.

A law made by a parliament.
More information: Making a law

To postpone or suspend.

A debate at the end of each sitting day when members of parliament make short speeches on any topic.

A contest between two or more sides representing different positions or holding different views.

(see councillor)

A change to a bill, an Act of Parliament or motion.
More information: Amendments

A bill to allow the government to spend money.
More information: Budget

A member of the government who assists a minister with their work.
More information: Ministers and Shadow Ministers

The set of rules by which Australia is governed, describing the powers of the Australian Parliament, the Australian Government and the High Court of Australia.
More information: Australian Constitution

The organisation responsible for running national elections and referendums.
More information: Federal elections

The federal government that puts Australian law into action, provides national government services and makes decisions on behalf of the nation.
More information: Government

The national Parliament, consisting of the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate and the House of Representatives.
More information: Australian Parliament

(see also no)
The expression used in Parliament to indicate a 'yes' vote.
More information: Voting in Parliament

A member of parliament who is not a minister or shadow minister, also known as a private member or private senator.
More information: Frontbenchers and backbenchers

The ability of one or more independents, or a parliamentary party, to decide an issue by the way they vote, due to no single party or coalition of parties having majority support.

A voting process by which a choice is made.

A piece of paper listing the names of candidates for election, on which voters record their choice.

(see also unicameral)
A parliament that consists of 2 chambers or houses.
More information: Australian Parliament

A proposal for a new law.
More information: Law-making

A formal, written declaration of the most important rights belonging to the citizens of a nation. It can be a law created by parliament or enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

To have the support of 2 parties.

The staff of office of the Usher of the Black Rod, made of ebony wood with a silver crown on the top.
More information: Black Rod

A seat - electorate - in which most voters usually vote for the same political party or independent, making it a 'safe' seat for that member or party.

The federal government's annual statement of how it plans to collect and spend money, with the agreement of the Parliament.
More information: Budget

The public servants who work in or manage government departments or organisations, and who help to put law into action.

An election held to fill a single vacancy in the House of Representatives if a member resigns, dies, or is found to be ineligible between federal elections.
More information: Federal elections

The key group of decision-makers in the government, consisting of the Prime Minister and top-level ministers.
More information: Cabinet

A highly secure room in Parliament House where the Cabinet meets.

A person standing for election to Parliament.

(see also deliberative vote)
A vote which decides the matter when votes are tied.
More information: Voting in Parliament

A vacancy that occurs in the Senate if a senator resigns or dies before their term of office has expired.

The members of parliament who belong to a particular parliamentary party (usually used in relation to the Australian Labor Party.)

A motion moved in the Senate or the House of Representatives to express disapproval of a member of parliament, a minister or the government.

The person who is in charge of a meeting.

A purpose-built room in the Parliament, in which law-making and debates occur.

The elected leader of the political party, or coalition of parties, forming a territory government.

A separate numbered item in a bill. A clause becomes a section in an Act.
More information: Making a law

The top-level parliamentary officer in the Senate or the House of Representatives.
More information: Clerks

A way of ending a debate and causing a vote to be taken straight away on the matter being discussed, even though some members of parliament may still wish to speak.

An agreement between two or more parliamentary parties to create a bigger group and strengthen their position.

A debate in which two or more separate, but related, matters are discussed at the same time.

(see also consideration in detail)
A stage in the passage of a bill through the Senate, in which senators discuss the bill in detail, including any suggested changes.

Law based on custom or court decisions, which works together with statute law made by a parliament.
More information: Sources of law

A group of people of a state or nation united by a common interest.

The formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia, used to identify its authority and property.
More information: National symbols

The formal name for Australia, established by the Australian Constitution.

Having the support of more than half the members of the House of Representatives.

(see free vote)

General agreement on an issue.

(see also committee of the whole)
A stage in the passage of a bill through the House of Representatives, in which members discuss the bill in detail, including any suggested changes.

Someone who votes or lives in an electorate or area represented by a member of parliament.

(see also Australian Constitution)
The set of rules by which a state or country is run.

A system of government in which a king or queen is the head of state but has limited power and must follow a constitution and accepted practices known as conventions. In Australia, the powers of the King have been delegated to his representative, the Governor-General.

The law-making body of a local government.

The building where a local council meets.

Title for a person elected to local government, also called an alderman.

In the legal system, a place where cases and trials are conducted; also the collective name for the judges that work in a court.

The seats in the Senate or the House of Representatives occupied by minor parties and/or independents.
More information: Independents

The action of a member of a parliamentary party walking across the Senate or the House of Representatives to vote against their party's view.
More information: Crossing the floor

(see also Order of Business)
The daily agenda showing items of business expected to be dealt with in the House of Representatives, known as the 'Blue'.

A situation in which the House of Representatives and the Senate disagree over a bill.
More information: Double Dissolution

A formal discussion on a bill or other topic in which different views are expressed.

Rules or regulations made by a government minister, executive office-holder or government department using power that is given to them by the Parliament.
More information: Delegated law

(see also casting vote)
The ordinary vote of a member of parliament, as opposed to the casting - or deciding - vote.

(see also representative democracy)
A system of government in which the people have a say about how they are governed, and free elections are held.
More information: Democracy

Two wooden chests on the central table of the House of Representatives, from which the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, ministers and shadow ministers make their speeches.
More information: Despatch Boxes

The act of closing the House of Representatives before calling a federal election.

A formal recorded vote in which members of parliament vote for or against a proposal by moving to the right or left of the Presiding Officer's chair.
More information: Voting in Parliament

Electronic bells that ring throughout Parliament House to call members of parliament to the Senate or the House of Representatives.

A pre-arranged question asked by a government backbencher to a minister in Question Time, which allows the minister to give a prepared reply.

The dissolution of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, for a federal election to take place. This can occur to resolve a deadlock between the 2 houses.
More information: Double dissolution

A majority of voters across the nation and a majority of voters in a majority of states. Necessary for making a change to the Australian Constitution in a referendum.
More information: Referendums and plebiscites

The process by which eligible citizens vote for people to represent them in a parliament.
More information: Federal elections

A competition for votes by people or parties who are seeking election to a parliament.

(see voter)

A list of all the people who are able to vote.

A geographical area represented by a member of parliament, also referred to as a seat.

The office of a member of parliament in their electorate, or state or territory where they work when Parliament is not meeting in Canberra.

The Prime Minister and ministers—also called the ministry—who lead and manage government departments and are responsible for putting into action government policy and the laws made by the Parliament.

(see also separation of powers)
The power of the executive government to make national decisions and put laws into action.

The act of spending money or the amount spent.

A document that explains the purpose and detail of a bill in a user-friendly way.

Relating to the Australian Parliament and the Australian Government, rather than state and territory parliaments, and state and territory governments.

The process by which eligible citizens vote for people to represent them in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
More information: Federal elections

The council of ministers including the Governor-General which discusses government policies and actions and can make delegated law, in accordance with the Australian Constitution.

(see Australian Parliament)

(see Australian Government)

A system of government in which powers and responsibilities are divided between a federal - national - government and state governments.

A nation formed by the union of a number of states which give up some of their powers and responsibilities to a central government.

The creation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.
More information: Federation

The second meeting place for the House of Representatives, used to conduct everyday business referred by the House, including long debates.
More information: House of Representatives

To use long speeches or other tactics to deliberately delay a parliamentary decision or vote.

The first stage of a bill's passage through the Parliament, in which the bill is introduced and the title of the bill is read for the first time.
More information: Making a law

The first speech in the Senate or the House of Representatives by a newly-elected member of parliament, during which they talk about what is important to them and what they hope to achieve in Parliament.

A vote in which members of parliament are not required to vote with their party; instead, they can vote according to their own beliefs. Sometimes called a conscience vote.
More information: Crossing the floor, Voting in Parliament

A member of parliament who is a minister or a shadow minister.
More information: Frontbenchers and backbenchers

A way to immediately stop a member of parliament speaking during a parliamentary debate.

(see also private members' business)
Business introduced into the Senate by a senator who is not a minister.

The act of governing and the exercise of authority.

A system of rule in a state or country. In the Australian Parliament it refers to the party, or coalition of parties, with the support of the majority of members in the House of Representatives.
More information: Government

Business introduced into the House of Representatives or the Senate by a minister.

A group of public servants who give advice to the minister in charge of their department and, under the direction of the minister, carry out the decisions of the government, provide government services to the public, and put laws into action.

The King's representative in each state of Australia.

The King's representative in Australia.
More information: Governor-General

(see also senators' statements)
A weekly discussion in the House of Representatives in which a member may speak on any matter of concern to them or the people they represent.

A time limit imposed on discussion of a bill.

An election held for half the Senate seats in each state. State senators have 6 year terms, but a system of rotation makes sure that half end their term every 3 years.
More information: Federal elections

The edited transcript - written record - of what is said in Parliament.
More information: Hansard

The formal leader of a country. King Charles III is Australia's head of state.

The highest court in Australia; it interprets and applies Australian law and decides cases about national issues, including challenges related to the Australian Constitution.

A title that may be used by a current or former minister, President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives.

One of the 2 houses of the British Parliament.

One of the 2 houses of the British Parliament.

One of the 2 houses of the Australian Parliament, also known as the lower house, in which the Australian Government is formed.
More information: House of Representatives

A parliament in which no political party has enough seats to secure an overall majority of members in the House of Representatives.

A member of parliament who does not belong to a political party.
More information: Independents

A ballot-paper that is not counted in an election because it has not been filled in correctly.

A group of people organised to promote an issue or cause which they have in common.

To act according to the standing orders.

A remark made to interrupt a speech or debate.

A parliamentary committee made up of members of both houses of Parliament.
More information: Committees

A combined meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate, to make a decision on a bill which the 2 houses, sitting separately, have been unable to agree on.
More information: Double dissolution

(see also Votes and Proceedings)
The official record of the actions and decisions made in the Senate.
More information: Records of the Parliament

The power of the courts to make judgements about the law.

The High Court of Australia and other federal courts that make judgements about the law.

His Majesty King Charles III, Australia's head of state.

Rules that help manage our society and define how people and organisations are expected to behave.
More information: Sources of law

A government senator who is chosen by their party or coalition of parties to lead them in the Senate.

A minister appointed by the government to manage its business in the House of Representatives.

A member of parliament who leads the largest party or coalition of parties that is not in government.
More information: Leader of the Opposition

An opposition senator who is chosen by their party or coalition of parties to lead them in the Senate.

Permission given to a member of parliament by other members of parliament present in the Senate or the House of Representatives to do something which is not usually allowed in the standing orders.

A law or proposed law.

(see also separation of powers)
The power of the Parliament to make and amend laws.

The law-making body of a country or state.

To approach the government, the opposition or other members of parliament, to get support for a cause or to influence them to change policy or actions.

The level of government that looks after local issues, such as rubbish collection, pet control and local roads.
More information: The responsibilities of the three levels of government

The full title of a bill which describes what the bill is about.

The name sometimes given to the House of Representatives.

The symbol of the authority of the House of Representatives and the Speaker, made of silver coated in gold, with a crown at one end.
More information: Mace

(see first speech)

A government formed by a political party or coalition of parties winning a majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
More information: Government

A minister appointed by the government to manage its business in the Senate.

A shadow minister appointed by the opposition to manage its business in the House of Representatives.

A shadow minister appointed by the opposition to manage its business in the Senate.

A seat or electorate in which the vote was very close and the winning candidate won by a small number of votes.

A discussion in Parliament about the government's actions or policies. The topic is usually raised by a shadow minister and, in the House of Representatives, responded to first by the minister in charge of the relevant government department.

The head of a city or town council.

(see also press gallery)
Newspapers, television, radio stations and other organisations that collect and publish information.

A person elected to the House of Representatives, also referred to as an MP.
More information: Members of the House of Representatives

A person elected to the House of Representatives or the Senate.

A member of the government who has been given an area of responsibility for how Australia is run, known as a portfolio.
More information: Ministers and shadow ministers

The principle that a minister should be accountable to the Parliament for their actions and decisions, as well as those of their government department.

(see Executive and executive government)

A government formed by a party or coalition of parties that does not have a majority in the House of Representatives, but governs with the support of the majority of all the members.

A political party that has only a small number of members elected to Parliament.

A head of state, such as a king or queen, who has inherited their position.

A proposed law that introduces a tax or suggests spending money for a particular purpose.

An idea or proposal put forward for consideration, debate and decision.

To make a formal proposal at a meeting.

An area of land that has its own local government.

To engage in a formal discussion in order to reach an agreement on an issue.

A vote in which the House of Representatives or the Senate expresses dissatisfaction with the performance of the government or a minister, more commonly used in the House of Representatives.

(see also aye)
The expression used in Parliament to indicate a ‘no' vote.
More information: Voting in Parliament

A member of parliament who does not belong to the government.

An announcement of a plan to introduce a motion, which indicates an intention to do something in the Senate or the House of Representatives.

A document published on each sitting day which lists all business before the Senate or the House of Representatives.

A declaration of loyalty to the King which the Australian Constitution requires a member of parliament to make before taking a seat in Parliament. An affirmation of allegiance—which does not include the name of God—may be made instead.

The largest party or coalition of parties that does not have the support of the majority of members in the House of Representatives.
More information: Opposition

The correct or proper conduct in parliamentary meetings.

(see also Daily Program)
The daily agenda showing business to be dealt with in the Senate on that day, known as the 'Red'.

An arrangement in which a member of parliament abstains from voting in order to balance the vote for an absent member on the opposite side.

An assembly of elected law-making representatives. The Australian Parliament consists of the King—represented by the Governor-General—the Senate and the House of Representatives.
More information: Australian Parliament

The building where the Australian Parliament meets in Canberra.
More information: Parliament House

(see member of parliament)

A small group of government and non-government members of parliament, which investigates and makes recommendations about a particular issue.
More information: Committees

A non-elected officer who works for the Parliament and has duties which support the work of the Parliament.

A political party with at least one member elected to a parliament.

The legal protection given to members of parliament or witnesses appearing before parliamentary committees to make sure they cannot be sued or prosecuted for anything they say or do during parliamentary proceedings.

(see assistant minister)

A geographical area in Canberra where the Australian Parliament is situated and which is part of Walter Burley Griffin's original plan for the city.

Control used by a parliamentary party to ensure its members work and vote together.

A room where parliamentary party members hold meetings. Also used to refer to all the members of a party or a coalition of parties.

A request by a group of citizens for Parliament to take action to solve a particular problem.
More information: Petitions

A policy or plan of action put forward by a political party or candidate.

A national vote used to decide a question that does not affect the Australian Constitution, the result of which is not binding on the government.
More information: Referendums and plebiscites

An appeal to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make a decision about whether a standing order has been broken.

A plan of action on an issue.

An organisation that represents a particular group of people or set of ideas, and aims to have their members elected to Parliament.
More information: Political parties

The activity of government, getting or using power and influencing public policy.

A count of people, votes or opinions; the official record of this count.

The day on which people vote in an election.

An area of responsibility of a government minister.

A system of voting in which a voter indicates an order of preference for candidates in an election.
More information: Federal elections

The elected leader of the political party or coalition of parties that form a state government.

A senator chosen by other senators to run meetings of the Senate and to make sure the standing orders are followed.
More information: President of the Senate

A member of parliament elected to run meetings in the Senate or the House of Representatives; in the Senate called the President and in the House of Representatives called the Speaker.

A group of people who work for the media inside Parliament House, and collect and publish information; also describes the area of Parliament House in which they work.
More information: Press gallery

An announcement, statement or item of news prepared for and given to the media.

The head of the Australian Government, who leads the parliamentary party or coalition of parties that wins the support of the majority of members in the House of Representatives.
More information: Prime Minister

A member of the House of Representatives who is not a minister.

(see also general business)
Business introduced into the House of Representatives by a member who is not a minister.

A senator who is not a minister.

The formal actions and decisions of a house of parliament.

An official public announcement that has legal effect.

A system of voting used in multi-member electorates which allocates seats in proportion to votes cast for candidates in an election.
More information: Federal elections

A special proclamation to formally close a session of the Parliament, used before a dissolution of the House of Representatives and the calling of a federal election.

The public viewing area in the Senate and House of Representatives.

An organisation of people employed in government departments, responsible for putting laws into action and delivering government services.

To ask for a decision on a question before the Parliament.

A matter to be debated and voted on, or a request for information put to a minister in the Parliament.

A written question asked of a minister, which is answered in writing at a later time.

A time each sitting day in which members of parliament ask ministers questions about government decisions and actions.
More information: Question Time

A spoken question asked of a minister in Question Time, which a minister is expected to answer immediately.

A minimum number of people who have to be present in the House of Representatives or Senate to hold a meeting, as stated in the Australian Constitution and the standing orders of the House or Senate.

The number of votes needed to be elected to the Senate.

The formal action which marks the completion of each stage of the passage of a bill through Parliament.

A change in the boundary of a House of Representatives electorate, to make sure there are a similar number of voters in each electorate.

A national vote to consider a change to the Australian Constitution.
More information: Referendums and plebiscites

A law made under the authority of an Act of Parliament.
More information: Delegated law

To formally revoke or remove.

A written statement of the results of a parliamentary committee of inquiry.

A person elected to Parliament to speak on behalf of others.

A system in which people vote for candidates to represent them in a parliament. In Australia, members of parliament are elected to the Senate or the House of Representatives to represent Australians and make laws on their behalf.

A nation in which the head of state is a president who is either directly or indirectly elected by the people, rather than a monarch.

The way in which the Senate asks the House of Representatives to make an amendment to some money bills which the Senate cannot change by itself.

Additional powers of the Governor-General not written in the Australian Constitution which may be used without ministerial advice, but usually according to accepted practices known as conventions.

The principle that the government should be responsible to the Parliament, to make sure the government does not abuse its power. The government must retain the support of the majority of members in the House of Representatives to stay in power.

Money a government collects from taxes and other sources to spend on government services.

The system of electing state senators in which all are elected for 6 year terms, with half being elected every 3 years, so that the Senate has continuous membership.

The signing of a bill by the Governor-General, which is the final step in making a bill into a law.
More information: Making a law

The principle that all people are equal before the law and must obey it; that the law should be fair, clearly written and protect people's rights.

To examine something closely.

(see delegated law)

(see Federation Chamber)

The second stage of a bill's passage through the Parliament, in which members of parliament debate and vote on the main idea of the bill.
More information: Making a law

A group of members of parliament who inquire into and report to the Parliament on a specific issue, and who disband when they have completed the report.
More information: Committees

One of the 2 houses of the Australian Parliament, also known as the upper house.
More information: Senate

Meetings of Senate committees that examine government spending, and related actions and decisions.
More information: Senate estimates

A person elected to the Senate.
More information: Senators

(see also grievance debate)
A weekly discussion in the Senate in which a senator may speak on any matter of concern to them or the people they represent.

The principle that the power to govern should be distributed between the Parliament that makes the law, the Executive that puts the law into action and the Judiciary that interprets the law, to avoid one group having all the power, and to act as a check on the possible misuse of power.
More information: Separation of powers: Parliament, Executive and Judiciary

A parliamentary officer who assists the Speaker in the House of Representatives to maintain order and run the House, as well as providing services to members of the House.
More information: Serjeant-at-Arms

A period which starts on the first sitting day after an election or prorogation and ends either by prorogation, a dissolution of the House of Representatives, or at the conclusion of 3 years from the first sitting of the House.

(see also temporary order)
A temporary rule used to manage the work of the House of Representatives, which may be adopted as a permanent rule.

The key group of decision-makers in the opposition, consisting of the Leader of the Opposition and top-level shadow ministers.

A member of the opposition who scrutinises - closely examines - the work of a particular minister or government department, and explains opposition policies.
More information: Ministers and shadow ministers

The entire group of shadow ministers who scrutinise - closely examine - the work of government ministers.

An area of local government, usually rural.
More information: The responsibilities of the three levels of government

The commonly known name of a bill.

(see also absolute majority)
More than half of the votes of members of parliament present in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

A meeting of a house of parliament.

The power of an independent country or state to control its own government and make its own laws.

A member of the House of Representatives chosen by other members to run meetings of the House and to make sure the standing orders are followed.
More information: Speaker of the House of Representatives

A group of members of parliament who meet regularly throughout the life of a Parliament to inquire into and report on bills and issues relating to particular subjects.
More information: Committees

The rules used to manage the work of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
More information: Standing orders

A region with certain law-making powers, which may join with other states to make up a federal union.

The level of government that puts state law into action, delivers government services and makes decisions on behalf of the people of that state.
More information: The responsibilities of the three levels of government

Elected representatives who make state laws.

A written law made by a parliament.

The right to vote in an election.

To remove a member of parliament from the House of Representatives or the Senate, usually because of their disorderly conduct.

A ceremony in which new members of parliament make an oath of allegiance or an affirmation of allegiance.

A voter who transfers their support from one political party or candidate to another at different elections.

To present a document or object to the House of Representatives or the Senate, to be included in the records of the Parliament.

An amount charged by a government on items such as wages or goods and services, to provide money for government services.

(see also sessional order)
A temporary rule used to manage the work of the Senate which may, after a trial period, be adopted as a permanent rule.

The description of the reason for a parliamentary committee of inquiry.

A region created by the Commonwealth of Australia with certain law-making powers.

The level of government that puts territory law into action, delivers government services and makes decisions on behalf of the people of that territory.
More information: The responsibilities of the three levels of government

Elected representatives who make territory laws.

The third stage of a bill's passage through the Parliament, in which members of parliament vote on the bill in its final form.
More information: Making a law

The minister responsible for the government's economic and financial policy, including how the government will collect and spend money to run the country.

To be inconsistent with or go against a constitution.

(see also bicameral)
A parliament that consists of one chamber or house.

The use of language which the the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives judges to be offensive or disorderly, and which usually needs to be withdrawn.

The name sometimes given to the Senate.

Debate on a matter in the Senate, usually regarding government actions or policies, followed by a vote on whether the matter is urgent.

A parliamentary officer who assists the President of the Senate to maintain order and run the Senate, as well as providing services to senators.
More information: Usher of the Black Rod

A person appointed to represent a monarch.

A formal expression of a choice.

A person who votes or is eligible to vote.

(see also Journals of the Senate)
The official record of the actions and decisions made in the House of Representatives.
More information: Records of the Parliament

The British Parliament, which meets at Westminster Palace in London.

The system of government which originated in Britain, with an executive government drawn from and directly responsible to a parliament.

A member of parliament who is selected by their parliamentary party or coalition of parties to be their team manager and to help arrange the business of the House of Representatives or the Senate.
More information: Party whip

A person who gives evidence to a parliamentary committee.

Legal documents instructing the Australian Electoral Commission to hold an election. The Governor-General issues writs for the election of members of the House of Representatives and territory senators; state governors issue writs for the election of state senators.