Laws
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This poster forms part of the Informed Playing Card Project, showing how laws are made, the different types of laws in Australia, and the features that make laws effective.
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Summary of the different roles of the Lower and Upper houses of Parliament in a Bicameral system of government. The resource pack considers the NSW Bicameral and the Federal Bicameral system and the different representatives, terms, law-making powers and responsibilities.
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A simple video explainer about why Parliament has two houses under the Westminster system of government, covering the roles of the Lower House (Legislative Assembly/House of Representatives) and Upper House (Legislative Council/Senate) in a bicameral Parliament. Learn why parliamentary scrutiny of laws, government decisions, and the Executive is essential for accountability, transparency, and effective democratic government.
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Delegated legislation allows Parliament to authorise government departments, councils and other bodies to create detailed rules—such as regulations, by‑laws and ordinances—under powers granted by an Act. It enables laws to be updated quickly, adapted to changing circumstances and informed by specialist expertise, but it also receives less direct democratic scrutiny than primary legislation. This video explores the benefits and risks of delegated law‑making, including concerns about executive overreach, limited public awareness and the use of “Henry VIII clauses” that permit delegated laws to amend Acts. It emphasises the need for strong parliamentary oversight, transparency and safeguards to ensure delegated legislation remains consistent with the rule of law and the separation of powers.
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This video explains the difference between rules and laws, why societies need them, and how they protect rights and maintain order. It introduces who makes laws, how they are enforced, and how rules and laws work together within Australia’s rule‑of‑law framework.
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This video explains the features of effective laws and uses the game of Monopoly to show how clear, fair and consistently applied rules create order. It highlights how good laws guide behaviour, prevent conflict and support a fair society.
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This video uses the Rule of Law Education Centre’s checklist to assess whether proposed hate‑speech laws are clear, fair, enforceable and protective of human rights. It explains how the laws aim to keep Australians safe while balancing freedom of speech, and shows how different types of hate speech attract different penalties depending on their seriousness.
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This PowerPoint introduces the features that make laws effective—clarity, consistency, fairness and enforceability—and shows how these qualities help laws protect rights, guide behaviour and support the rule of law. It is designed to help Years 9–10 students evaluate real laws using these criteria.
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This PowerPoint introduces the difference between rules and laws, why societies need them, and how they guide behaviour and keep communities safe. It explains who makes laws, how they are enforced, and how rules and laws work together within Australia’s rule‑of‑law framework.
Bicameral System of Government: Poster
Australia’s Commonwealth Parliament has two houses: the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House). Together, they debate, consider and vote on proposed laws.
House of Representatives (Lower House)
The House of Representatives consists of 150 elected members, with one member representing each federal electorate in Australia. Members are elected using the preferential voting system and serve three-year terms.
The House of Representatives can introduce any bill, including money bills relating to taxation and government spending. The party or coalition that holds a majority of seats forms government, and its leader becomes the Prime Minister.
Senate (Upper House)
The Senate consists of 76 senators, including 12 senators from each of the six states and two senators from each mainland territory.
State senators serve six-year terms, with half elected at each federal election. Territory senators serve three-year terms, with both territory seats contested at every federal election.
The Senate debates matters of national and international importance and considers bills passed by the House of Representatives. It can debate, amend and vote on proposed legislation.
Passing Laws
Before a bill can become law, it must be agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This process ensures that proposed laws are considered by both houses of Parliament.
Key Responsibilities
The House of Representatives forms the government, while the Senate acts as a House of Review, scrutinising government actions and helping to ensure accountability.
New South Wales Bicameral System of Government
NSW’s Parliament also has two houses: the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and the Legislative Council (Upper House). Together, they debate, consider and vote on proposed state laws.
Related Resources
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This explainer outlines how statute law, common law and delegated legislation are created, changed and applied in Australia, outlining the parliamentary stages of law‑making, the development of common law through judicial decisions and precedent, and the role of executive bodies in making delegated legislation under enabling Acts. It connects directly to syllabus concepts such as the origin and development of common law, features of the doctrine of precedent, steps in the legislative process, parliamentary supremacy, and reasons for changes in the law, including social values, technology and community safety. By showing how each source of law operates within Australia’s democratic framework and the rule of law, the resource helps students understand how legal authority is exercised fairly, transparently and accountably.
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This factsheet outlines the key characteristics of effective laws in Australia’s representative democracy, explaining how laws must protect the rule of law, uphold human rights, and regulate behaviour in ways that are clear, known, accepted, consistent and fair. It highlights syllabus concepts such as accessibility, enforceability, stability, prospectivity, and the need for laws to be amendable as community values change. By showing how effective laws prevent arbitrary power and support equality before the law, the factsheet helps students understand why legal certainty and accountability are essential in Australia’s legal system.
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This factsheet provides a clear overview of how laws in Australia are created, applied and enforced, explaining the purpose of laws, the role of statute law, common law and legal precedent, and the importance of the rule of law in a democratic society. It outlines key syllabus concepts including effective law‑making, bicameral and unicameral parliaments, the doctrine of precedent, and major types of law such as criminal, civil, administrative and constitutional. Designed as a concise one‑page resource, it helps students understand how legal institutions operate across different jurisdictions and why fairness, accountability and legal certainty are essential in Australia’s legal system.
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Short video about the bicameral system of government using NSW as a case study
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