07 Party leadership in the Senate and the House of Representatives

In the House of Representatives

The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition lead their parties in the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister is the head of the government and the leader of Australia. He or she sits in the House of Representatives and is elected by the party or parties which have won most of the seats in this house. He/she is in charge of the cabinet, which is the group of senior ministers who make important decisions about running the country.

The Leader of the Opposition is the head of the Opposition. He or she leads the party or parties which have the second largest number of seats in the House of Representatives.

The Leader of the House is a minister appointed by the Prime Minister to make sure that the government’s business of bills and other matters proceed through the House of Representatives efficiently. The chief work of the Leader of the House is to organise the minute by minute operation of the House of Representatives so that the daily work runs efficiently. The Leader of the House works closely with the Speaker, as well as the Whips, Clerks, and senior members of the opposition. They meet daily to arrange the agenda of the day and also during the day’s sitting to re-arrange the business of the day. The Leader of the House spends a lot of time in the chamber moving motions which smooth the passage of legislation.

In the Senate

In the Senate, the Leader of the Government and the Leader of the Opposition lead their parties in debating bills. Although these two senators have responsibility for their parties in the Senate, they do not have the same powers as the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives.

The Manager of Government Business is a minister appointed by the Prime Minister to make sure that the government’s business of bills and other matters proceed through the Senate efficiently. The chief work of the Manager of Government Business is to organise the minute by minute operation of the Senate so that the daily work runs efficiently. The Manager of Government Business works closely with the President of the Senate, as well as the Whips, the Clerks, and senior members of the opposition. They meet daily to arrange the agenda for the day and also during the day’s sitting to re-arrange the business of the day. The Manager spends a lot of time in the chamber moving motions which smooth the passage of legislation.

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