20-Question Practice Test: Senate, State, and Territory Governments

Senate, State, and Territory Governments Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is another name for the Senate in the Australian Parliament?

Answer: The Senate is the other house of the Australian Parliament. It is sometimes called the Upper House, the House of Review, or the House of States. Voters from each state in Australia elect senators as their representatives in the Senate by voting in elections.

Question 2: How many senators are there in total in the Australian Senate?

Answer: All states in Australia are equally represented in the Senate, regardless of their size and population. The Australian Senate consists of a total of 76 senators. A total of 72 senators, 12 each from 6 states, and the remaining 4 senators are elected from the 2 mainland territories, with the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory electing 2 senators each.

Question 3: How many senators are elected from each state?

Answer: A senator is a representative elected by the people to represent a state or territory in the Australian Parliament. The Australian Senate consists of 76 senators in total. All states in Australia are equally represented in the Senate, regardless of size or population. Of these, 72 senators are elected, including 12 from each of the 6 states and 4 from each of the 2 mainland territories.

Question 4: What is the primary role of senators in the Australian Parliament?

Answer: Senators participate in the legislative process by considering proposals related to new laws or changes to existing laws, discussing them in detail, and voting on them. They discuss issues of national importance and formulate national policies.

Question 5: What does equal representation in the Senate mean?

Answer: All states in Australia are equally represented in the Senate, regardless of their size or population. 12 members from each state are represented in the Senate. 'Section 7' of the Australian Constitution guarantees equal representation of states in the Senate. This ensures all states have an equal voice in the Senate and prevents the unequal influence of large states over smaller states.

Question 6: Who elects the senators to the Senate?

Answer: During federal elections, senators are elected by citizens of their respective states or territories, who are at least 18 years old. The proportion of seats won by each party in each state or territory is determined in a proportional representational manner, closely reflecting the proportion of votes won by that party in that state or territory. A senator is a representative elected by the people to the Australian Parliament to represent a state or territory.

Question 7: Why is the Senate sometimes called the States' House?

Answer: The Senate is the other house of the Australian Parliament. It is sometimes referred to as the 'House of States' because all states in Australia are equally represented in the Senate, regardless of their size and population.

Question 8: What are the two territories that elect senators in addition to the states?

Answer: Citizens over the age of 18 from six states and two mainland territories in Australia cast their votes to elect senators who represent them in parliament. There are a total of 76 senators in the Senate. These include 12 senators each from the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania, and two each from the mainland territories of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Question 9: What matters do senators discuss?

Answer: Senators participate in the legislative process by considering proposals for new laws or changes to existing laws in parliament, discussing them in detail, and voting on them. They address issues of national importance, vote, and formulate national policies.

Question 10: What is the primary function of the Senate?

Answer: The Senate is also known as the Upper House, the House of Review, and the House of States. Its main function is to comprehensively review and thoroughly examine the laws proposed or passed by the House of Representatives as part of the legislative process. Priority is given to issues of national importance that affect the entire country rather than individual states.

Question 11: How many senators do the smaller territories elect compared to the states?

Answer: There are a total of 76 senators in the Senate, where the states receive more representation, and the territory areas are less represented than the states. The states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania are represented by 12 senators each, while only four senators are elected, two each from the mainland areas of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Question 12: How does the Senate balance the legislative process?

Answer: The Australian Senate balances the legislative process in a number of ways, the most important of which are:

• 1) The Senate has equal representation to the House of Representatives, intended to prevent more populous states from dominating the legislative process.
• 2) It comprehensively reviews and thoroughly examines laws proposed or passed by the House of Representatives as part of the legislative process.
• 3) All states have equal representation in the Senate, regardless of their size or population.
• 4) Proposed laws are sent to the Governor-General for royal assent only after mandatory approval by both houses.

Question 13: Which of the following terms does NOT refer to the Australian Senate?

Answer: The Senate is known as the Upper House, the House of Review, and the States' House. It is not referred to as the Lower House; that term is associated with the House of Representatives.

Question 14: How many states are there in Australia?

Answer: There are six states in Australia: 1) New South Wales, 2) Victoria, 3) Queensland, 4) Western Australia, 5) South Australia, and 6) Tasmania. Each state has its own Parliament and constitution. These states adhere to the federal system of the country and govern independently. The leader of a state government is called the premier. A governor from each state represents the king of Australia under the constitutional monarchy. The states have special rights recognised by the Constitution and the power to pass laws independently.

Question 15: Where are state and territory governments based?

Answer: The governments of each state and territory in Australia are established only in their capital cities. These capital cities focus on administrative activities and governance in major urban centers. The states have special rights recognized by the Constitution, whereas the territories do not have such rights. The Australian government, however, can change or repeal self-governing territory laws at any time.

Question 16: What is the leader of a state government in Australia called?

Answer: The 'Premier' acts as the head of the Australian state government. He is responsible for implementing government policies and laws in the state. The Premier appoints ministers to his cabinet and allocates portfolios to them. The Premier is an elected member of parliament, chosen by other members of their party to lead the government. The Premier represents their state as a member of the national cabinet.

Question 17: What is the leader of the territorial government in Australia called?

Answer: The Chief Minister is the head of a territory government in Australia. He oversees the administration of the territory and implements local policies. This involves driving the public sector and working with the community to achieve positive outcomes. The responsibilities of the Chief Minister include monitoring and coordinating major government strategies, strengthening cabinet and executive processes, regional coordination of government policies and activities, as well as security, emergency response, restoration, and social policy.

Question 18: Which document outlines the framework of each state government?

Answer: Every state in Australia has its own constitution and parliament. This constitution differs from the Constitution of the Australian Federation. It describes the structure of the state government, its powers, and functions. The states in Australia have rights recognized by the Constitution. States also have power to pass laws in their own right. In Australia, the leader of the state government is called the 'premier'. A governor in each state represents the King of Australia and the constitutional monarchy.

Question 19: How are the state and territory leaders different in their titles?

Answer: The titles of state and territory government leaders in Australia are somewhat different. The leader of a state government is called the 'premier', while the leader of a territory government is called the 'chief minister'. These names reflect their unique government roles. Just as the Prime Minister of Australia governs at the national level, they also carry out similar functions at the state and territory levels.

Question 20: Which governmental body is unique to each Australian state?

Answer: Every Australian state has its own constitution and parliament. The parliaments of all states are based on the Westminster model system, and each state parliament is controlled by its own constitution. These parliaments enforce laws and regulate state-specific matters, operating independently of the federal parliament. Except for Queensland, all other states have a bicameral parliament.