Parliament of South Australia

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Parliament House, Adelaide

Parliament House

Recreated lower and upper house booths, history, and voting procedures

The Parliament of South Australia is the legislature of the Australian state of South Australia. It consists of The Sovereign, the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. It is based on the Westminster system of parliamentary government.

The Sovereign is represented in South Australia by the Governor. Among the Governor's duties are the opening of Parliament, dissolving of Parliament and issuing of writs for an election, and giving Royal Assent to Bills passed by Parliament.

The leader of the party or coalition most likely to command a majority of votes in the House of Assembly is invited by the Governor to form a government and becomes the Premier.

1 The House of Assembly
2 The Legislative Council
3 Location
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] The House of Assembly

Main article: South Australian House of Assembly

The House of Assembly (or "lower house") is made up of 47 members who each are elected on a preferential system to represent an electoral district. Each of the 47 districts reprsents approximately the same amount of the voting public, and redistribution of electoral divisions take place by the State Electoral Office after each election to maintain equality in Electoral Divisions.

The House of Assembly is where the government is formed, after an election the leader of the party or coalition who can demonstrate support of the majority of the House, is called upon by the Governor to form government. The leader of the government becomes the Premier.

[edit] The Legislative Council

Main article: South Australian Legislative Council

The Legislative Council (or "upper house") is made up of 22 "councillors" who are elected to serve a term of 8 years on a system of proportional representation, elections for the Legislative Council are staggered so half the seats are up for reelection every 4 years, in time with the election for the House of Assembly.

The primary function of the Legislative Council is to act as a house of review of legislation that has been passed by the House of Assembly, it is in this capacity that can cause tensions between the government and the Legislative Council, as the government is said to have the mandate of the people and view the Legislative Council as obstructionist.

The 2010 state election will coincide with a referendum on the future of the legislative council. Voters can choose to abolish the upper house, or half the numbers of the chamber to 11 and shorten parliamentary terms to 4 years, or leave as is.[1]

[edit] Location

Main article: Parliament House, Adelaide

The seat of the Parliament of South Australia is Parliament House in the state capital of Adelaide. Parliament House sits on the North-Western corner of the intersection of King William Street and North Terrace.