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The table below shows the current political make-up of the Senate - VCE - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 5
The table below shows the current political make-up of the Senate. The party with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives is the Australian Labor Party... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The table below shows the current political make-up of the Senate - VCE - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify two factors that affect the ability of parliament to make law.
Answer
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Majority Control in the House of Representatives: The Australian Labor Party holds the majority in the House of Representatives, which allows them to easily introduce and pass government bills. This majority ensures that bills align with the party's policies, leading to smoother passage through the Senate due to having more members in the lower house who can vote in favor of these bills.
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Opposition Support: The passage of government bills through the Senate also depends significantly on the support from opposition parties. Given that the Australian Labor Party requires cooperation from the Australian Greens and possibly other Senators to gather enough votes (as they do not have an absolute majority in the Senate), their ability to pass legislation is contingent upon negotiating support from these parties. This can sometimes lead to challenges if the opposition holds contrasting views or priorities.