A Glossary of Parliamentary Words

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A-Z Index of glossary

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

C

1. concurrent power (of the Constitution)

   power which, under the Constitution, may be exercised by both the Commonwealth and the states

2. Constitution

   the set of basic rules by which a country or state is governed; Australias constitution is set out in the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act

3. constitutional

   1. having the power of, or existing because of, the laws set out in the Constitution
   2. in agreement with, or depending on, the laws set out in the Constitution

4. constitutional convention

   1. an unwritten rule or practice, or an established custom, relating to the operation of a constitution
   2. a meeting called to consider or draw up a constitution

5. constitutional monarchy

   a country which has a monarch, whose powers are limited by a constitution

D

1. double dissolution

   the dissolution by the Governor-General of the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously, resulting in the termination of all business before them, and the calling of an election to return members for all seats in both houses; this may occur only in circumstances of deadlock between the houses prescribed in section 57 of the Constitution

E

1. exclusive power (of the Constitution)

   the sole right, given by the Constitution, of the federal Parliament, as opposed to state parliaments, to legislate on certain subjects; for example, the power to make laws for the whole country on customs and excise duties

2. executive power

   the power to administer the law, and one of the three powers under the Constitution, the others being the legislative power (exercised by Parliament) and the judicial power (exercised by the High Court and other courts)

H

1. High Court (of Australia)

   the court set up under the Australian Constitution to decide matters arising under the Constitution, and to hear appeals from the supreme courts of the states and other federal courts

J

1. judicial power

   the power to interpret or apply the law in particular cases; one of the three powers under the Constitution, the others being the legislative power and the executive power

L

1. legislative power

   the power to make and change laws; one of three powers under the Constitution, the others being the judicial power and the executive power

N

1. nexus

   a provision of the Constitution which requires that the number of Members of the House of Representatives be, as nearly as practicable, twice the number of Senators

O

1. oath or affirmation of allegiance

   a declaration of loyalty to the Queen which the Constitution requires each member of Parliament to make before taking a seat in Parliament

2. ordinary annual services of government

   those services which are necessary for the continuing and settled operation of government; under the Constitution the Senate cannot amend bills which appropriate revenue for such services, which include matters agreed in the Compact of 1965

P

1. powers (under the Constitution)

   the three types of authority legislative, executive and judicial provided under the Australian Constitution; the legislative powers of the federal Parliament

R

1. referendum

   a vote by all voters on a question; in Australia, nearly always a public vote on a proposed law to alter the Constitution

2. request (for an amendment)

   the Senates act of asking the House of Representatives to make an amendment to certain financial bills which, under the Constitution, the Senate cannot amend itself

3. reserve powers

   powers accorded to the Governor-General by convention which are not written into the Constitution and which may be exercised without ministerial advice

T

1. tacking

   the inclusion in the same bill of expenditure proposals which the Senate is able to amend, together with proposals dealing with appropriations for the ordinary annual services of government, which, under the Constitution, the Senate is not able to amend, but for which it may request amendments