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Parliamentary Education Office, 2008. Please visit the Image Library page for important information about use of images.

Description

This diagram illustrates the principle of responsible government.

After an election, the government is formed in the House of Representatives.

Government has the support of more than 50 percent of the House, and non-government has the support of less than 50 percent of the House.

The government is responsible to the Parliament (the Senate and the House of Representatives).

The government must maintain the support of the House of Representatives to stay in power.

If the government loses the support of the majority and the non-government gains the support of the majority in the House of Representatives, then the government will either resign or a federal election will be called.