Double Dissolution Definition
For a bill to become a law in Australia, both the House of Representatives and the Senate must pass the bill. If the House and the Senate cannot reach an agreement on the bill, both Houses of Parliament are dissolved, and new members are elected.
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Significance
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The House of Representatives passes a bill that the Senate rejects. The Senate may pass the bill with amendments, but the House will not agree. After a period of three months, the House passes the bill again. The Senate once more rejects the bill or wants amendments that the House does not agree with.
Considerations
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When the House of Representatives and the Senate are in disagreement and a solution is unreachable, the Prime Minister can recommend a double dissolution to the Governor-General. The Governor-General dissolves both Houses of Parliament, and an election determines the new members of both houses.
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Effects
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After the election of new members of parliament, the bill is presented again to both Houses. If a deadlock occurs for a second time, the Governor-General will order a joint sitting of both Houses where all members vote together. More than 50 percent of the total members must vote in favor of the bill for the bill to pass into law.
History
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The Australian Parliament has had six double dissolutions in its history. They occurred in 1914, 1951, 1974, 1975, 1983 and 1987.
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References
Resources
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