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Fact sheet series

Fact sheet series

You've probably heard about things like 'Cabinet', 'Mr Speaker', and 'Coalition'. But what do they mean? The Fact Sheet Series will answer many of those questions by explaining parliamentary terms.

All 56 Fact Sheets are available to read on the website, or may be downloaded in PDF. Make your selection from the drop-down menus above.

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PDF iconDownload complete set: 56 Fact Sheets [PDF 6.66MB, 60 pages]

List of all available fact sheets

A Day in Parliament 27

A Day in the Life of a Member of the House of Representatives 40

Adjournment Debate 05

Amendments 06

Bills and Acts 28

Budget 53

Cabinet 19

Clerk 54

Coalition 12

Coat of Arms 01

Constitution 31

Crossing the Floor 38

Despatch Box 02

Double Dissolution 33

Elections 41

Estimates 42

Federation 34

Frontbenchers and Backbenchers 37

Functions of Parliament 29

Governor-General 17

Hansard 44

House of Representatives 18

Independent Members and Senators 14

Inside Parliament House 45

Joint Sitting of Parliament 46

Leader of the Opposition 15

Mace 11

Main Committee 08

Media 24

Members of Parliament in the House of Representatives 20

Ministers 48

Ministers and Shadow Ministers 21

Parliament House Facts 43

Parliamentary Committees 49

Party leadership in the Senate and the House of Representatives 07

Party Meetings 09

Party Whip 26

Passing a Bill 36

Petitions 50

Political Party 22

Preparing a Bill for Parliament 51

President of the Senate 16

Prime Minister 23

Private Members and Senators 47

Prorogation of Parliament and Dissolution of the House of Representatives 13

Question Time 39

Senate 25

Senators 32

Separation of Powers 35

Serjeant-at-Arms 10

Speaker 30

Speaker's Chair 03

Standing Orders 52

Three Levels of Government 55

Usher of the Black Rod 04

Where Bills Come From 56

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