parliamentary Glossary t-z
Tt
table
To table something in parliament is to present a document or article to a house of parliament. The senator was asked to table the report from the Senate committee.
tax
A tax is a financial charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a body. Taxes are usually collected by a government agency. The Treasurer announced tax cuts during the Budget speech.
teller
A teller is a person, usually a whip, who is appointed by a chair in both houses to count (or ‘tell’) the members voting in a division. The teller used a checklist of party names to count the ‘no’ votes.
term
A term is a limited period of time during which an office or a position is held. This is the senator’s second term in the Senate.
terms of reference
Terms of reference are the description or outline of a matter referred to a parliamentary committee for inquiry. There were four terms of reference that the Science and Innovation Committee was asked to investigate.
territory
In the federal system of government, a territory is an area which has not been given the full rights of a state. The home of the Australian federal Parliament is a territory; the Australian Capital Territory.
territory government
A territory government is an elected group of people who administer territory law, deliver goods and services and make day to day decisions on behalf of the people of that territory. The territory government decided to build a library in the new suburb.
territory parliament
A territory parliament is an assembly of elected representatives that make the laws for an Australian territory. The territory parliament debated the need for new road safety laws.
third reading stage
The third reading of a bill is the final of three fundamental stages that a bill must go through in order to become an Act of Parliament. This is the stage in either house when members or senators vote on the final version of the bill. At the completion of the third reading stage the bill moved to the Senate.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is the minister responsible for economic and financial policy, and who prepares the government’s Budget. The treasurer is the minister in charge of the government department known as the Treasury. The Treasurer suggested that tax increases might be included in the forthcoming Budget.
treaty
A treaty is a formal agreement between two or more independent nations concerning peace, alliance, trade or other international relations. Australia is a signatory to the ANZUS Treaty.
Uu
unconstitutional
To be unconstitutional is to be contrary to, or inconsistent with, a constitution or the recognised principles of the constitutional law of a country. The High Court ruled that the federal law was unconstitutional.
unicameral
A unicameral parliament consists of one chamber or house. Queensland has a unicameral parliament.
unparliamentary language
Unparliamentary language is the use of words or language which the chair of the house judges to be offensive or disorderly, and which are usually required to be withdrawn. The senator’s unparliamentary language drew howls of protest from the senators and a rebuke from the President.
upper house
The upper house is the second chamber in a bicameral parliament. The Senate is the upper house in the federal Parliament.
urgency motion
An urgency motion is moved in the Senate to provide an opportunity to discuss public policy and government performance and must be supported by five senators. The urgency motion proceeded without prior notice given the support of five senators.
Usher of the Black Rod
The Usher of the Black Rod is an officer of the Senate who is responsible for maintaining order in the Senate and who performs special duties on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of parliament after an election. The office of the Usher of the Black Rod also provides services and facilities to senators. The Usher of the Black Rod is named after the Black Rod that he or she carries.
Vv
vacancy
A vacancy is an unoccupied position or office. There was a vacancy in the position of party leader.
vice-regal
Vice-regal refers to a person appointed as a deputy by a king or queen. In Australia the Governor-General is the chief vice-regal representative of the Queen.
vote
- A vote is a formal expression of a choice, such as putting one’s hand up or marking a piece of paper for counting purpose. Each voter marked their ballot paper to register their vote at the election.
- A vote is the total number of votes. The party vote in the election was higher than usual.
voter
A voter is someone who votes or someone who has a right to vote. The first time voter was keen to take part in the democratic process.
Votes and Proceedings
Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives are the official records of decisions in the House of Representatives. The Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives recorded the results of the division.
Ww
Westminster
Westminster is the British Parliament, which meets at Westminster Palace in London. The Australian system of governance owes a lot to Westminster traditions.
Westminster system
The Westminster system is a system of government which originated in Britain, the main features of which are a head of state who is not the head of government and an executive government which is drawn from and is directly responsible to the parliament. The Australian system of government has several characteristics of the Westminster system.
whip
A whip is a party manager in parliament who is responsible for organising members of the party to take part in debates and votes, and who assists in arranging the business of a house of parliament. The whip asked the member to be present in the chamber for the debate.
witness
A witness is a person who gives evidence to a parliamentary committee. Three witnesses are to appear before the committee this afternoon.
writs
Writs are formal orders, issued by the Governor-General (in the case of the members of the House of Representatives and territory senators), and state governors (in the case of state senators), requiring that a federal election be held. The campaign began in earnest following the issuing of writs for a federal election next month.