Double dissolution facts for kids

A double dissolution is a special process allowed by the Australian Constitution. It happens when the two parts of Australia's Parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate, cannot agree on a new law. If they are truly stuck, the Governor-General can decide to end the terms of all members in both houses. This then leads to a full national election where everyone votes for new members for both the House and the Senate.

What is a Double Dissolution?

A double dissolution is a way to solve big disagreements in the Australian Parliament. Normally, members of the House of Representatives serve for three years, and senators serve for six years. But if the two houses can't agree on important laws, this special rule lets the Governor-General call an early election for all seats in both houses.

Australia's Parliament

Australia has a system of government called a parliamentary system. It has two main parts that make laws:

• The House of Representatives is where the government is usually formed. Each member represents a local area.
• The Senate is also called the "states' house" because it represents the different states and territories equally.

For a new law (called a bill) to pass, it must be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

When Parliament Gets Stuck

Sometimes, the House of Representatives might pass a bill, but the Senate might vote against it or change it. If this happens more than once, and the two houses still can't agree on the same bill, Parliament is "stuck." This is when a double dissolution can be considered. It's a way to let the voters decide who should be in Parliament to break the deadlock.

The Governor-General's Role

The Governor-General is the King's representative in Australia. They have important powers, including the power to call a double dissolution election. However, they usually only do this if the Prime Minister asks them to, and only if the rules in the Constitution have been met.

What Happens Next?

If a double dissolution is called, every single seat in both the House of Representatives and the Senate becomes vacant. This means there is a full election for all 151 seats in the House and all 76 seats in the Senate. After the election, new members are chosen, and hopefully, the new Parliament can work together to pass laws.

Double dissolutions are quite rare in Australia. They have only happened a few times since the country was formed.

Images for kids

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  Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visits Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on 8 May 2016 to request a double dissolution