Australian Senate facts for kids

Australian Senate
Australian Senate
Type
Type	Upper house
Structure
Seats	76
Political groups	Government; Coalition (34); Liberal (23); LNP (6); Nationals (3); CLP (1); Opposition (25); Labor (25); Crossbench (11); Greens (10); PUP (2); Motoring (1); Liberal Democrats (1); Family First (1); Independent (3);
Elections
Last election	2013
Meeting place
	Parliament House; Canberra, ACT; Australia
Website
	Senate

The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The lower house is the House of Representatives. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years. But some senators have 3 year terms. The Senate has a lot of power from the Australian Constitution.

There are currently 76 people in the Senate.

Images for kids

The Australian Senate in 1923
The Senate chamber at Old Parliament House, Canberra, where the Parliament met between 1927 and 1988
Senate ballot paper used in Victoria for 2016
The Australian Senate
A Senate committee room in Parliament House, Canberra