The Leader of the House of Representatives Is Known as

About the House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is one of the ii houses of the Australian Federal Parliament, the other being the Senate. Information technology is sometimes chosen the 'people'southward business firm' or the 'house of government'.

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The House currently has 151 Members. Each Member represents an electoral division. The boundaries of these electorates are adjusted from time to time so that they all contain approximately equal numbers of electors—because of the distribution of Australia'due south population they vary greatly in area (from a few square kilometres to over two million square kilometres). Members are elected by a organization known as preferential voting, under which voters rank candidates in lodge of preference.

Each House of Representatives may continue for up to three years, after which general elections for a new House must be held. Elections are often held before the cease of this period.

The main political parties represented in the Business firm are the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Commonwealth of australia. In contempo years there has also been a number of independent parties and Members.

See also:

• Infosheet viii – Elections for the Firm of Representatives

Functions

Makes laws—The House's central function and the i which takes up virtually of its time is the consideration and passing of new laws and amendments or changes to existing laws. Whatever Member tin can innovate a proposed constabulary (bill) but well-nigh are introduced past the Government. To become law, bills must be passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They may offset in either house but the majority of bills are introduced in the Firm of Representatives.

Determines the Government—Subsequently an election the political party (or coalition of parties) which has the most Members in the House of Representatives becomes the governing party. Its leader becomes Prime Minister and other Ministers are appointed from amidst the party'southward Members and Senators. To remain in office a Government must keep the support of a majority of Members of the Firm.

Publicises and scrutinises regime administration—Argue of legislation and ministerial policy statements, discussion of matters of public importance, committee investigations, asking questions of Ministers (during question time—at ii pm—Members may inquire Ministers questions without notice on matters relating to their work and responsibilities; questions tin can likewise exist asked on find for written answer).

Represents the people—Members may present petitions from citizens and raise citizens' concerns and grievances in fence. Members also enhance bug of business with Ministers and government departments.

Controls authorities expenditure—The Authorities cannot collect taxes or spend money unless allowed by law through the passage of taxation and appropriation bills. Expenditure is also examined by parliamentary committees.

See besides:

• Infosheet nineteen – the House, Government and Opposition

Sittings

The normal sitting pattern for the Firm extends from February to March, May to June and August to Dec. During these periods the House usually meets in blocks of two sitting weeks followed by 2 non-sitting weeks. Normally the House sits from Monday to Thursday each sitting week.

The order of business for each sitting is set down by the rules of the House (the House of Representatives Standing and Sessional Orders). The largest proportion of time is taken up with debate on government business organization—mainly the consideration of bills. On Monday, 'private Members' day', time is reserved for debating reports from parliamentary committees and business sponsored by both government and non-government backbenchers.

All proceedings are open to the public.

See also:

• Infosheet2 – A typical sitting day
• Sitting calendar

Committees

The House has a comprehensive system of standing committees. These include:

• investigative committees—These committees comport out inquiries on matters of public policy or government administration. They have evidence from the public and report to the House with recommendations for authorities activeness. The system of full general purpose standing committees parallels the functions of government, for example, Ancient and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; Economics, Finance and Public Assistants; Education and Vocational Training; and

• domestic or internal committees—These committees are concerned with the performance of the Firm, for example, Procedure, Privileges, Members' Interests.

There are several joint committees on which both Members and Senators serve together, for example, the Public Accounts and Audit Committee.

See also:

• Infosheet 4 – Committees

The Sleeping accommodation

The photograph at left shows the Bedroom of the Business firm in action.

At the centre is the Speaker's Chair and the Table of the Firm. The two Clerks at the Table advise the Chair and Members about procedure and record the formal minutes of proceedings. Hansard reporters sit at the small primal table to record the debates. Each Member has his or her own seat, with government Members to the correct of the Speaker and opposition and other non-government Members to the left. Ministers and senior opposition Members (the shadow ministry) sit on the facing front benches and speak from the Table, other Members speak from their places.

With the exception of question time, Members are rarely all present in the Chamber at the aforementioned fourth dimension, but are engaged in work elsewhere, including participating in committee meetings and debates in the Main Committee. Members tin can watch what is happening in the Chamber at all times from their offices through the Parliament House internal television system.

Behind the Speaker's Chair at outset flooring level is the press gallery, reserved for media representatives. On the other three sides of the Chamber are the public galleries, which are e'er open to visitors.

Come across besides:

The Federation Chamber

The Federation Chamber provides an boosted forum for the second reading and consideration in detail stages of bills and contend of committee reports and papers presented to the House. 1 of the House of Representatives committee rooms is dedicated to this function and fitted out every bit a small-scale Chamber. Its proceedings are also open to the public.

See also:

• Infosheet 16 – The Federation Chamber

The Speaker

The first activeness of the House post-obit an election is to elect one of its Members to be Speaker. The Speaker presides over the sittings of the House and is responsible for its administration. The Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker are likewise elected. A panel of other Members, appointed by the Speaker, provides assistance in presiding over the House and the Main Committee. When in the Chair these Members are referred to equally 'Deputy Speaker'.

See also:

• Infosheet three – The Speaker

Inter-Parliamentary Relations

The International and Parliamentary Relations Office (IPRO) provides advice and support relevant to the conduct of the Parliaments international and regional diplomacy. It provides general support for inter-parliamentary conferences and incoming and outgoing parliamentary delegations; training back up for other parliaments, particularly the smaller parliaments in our region; and advice to the Presiding Officers and members on international parliamentary matters.

The IPROs objective is to support external relations for the Parliament with a view to achieving productive and amicable international and regional relationships with other parliaments and parliamentary bodies and organisations.

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Source: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/About_the_House_of_Representatives

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