CHAPTER 1 --
THE SENATE AND ITS CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE --
The Senate, bicameralism and federalism --
Bases of the two Houses --
Rationale of bicameralism --
Rationale of federalism --
The Senate and representation --
Function of the Senate --
Legislative powers --
Other powers --
Composition of the Senate --
Casual vacancies --
Rotation of the senators and terms of office --
The nexus --
Rules and orders --
Table 1 : Votes and Seats in Elections, 1949-2004 --
Table 2 : Party Affiliations in the Senate, 1907-2004 --
CHAPTER 2 --
PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE : IMMUNITIES AND POWERS OF THE SENATE --
Parliamentary privilege and the Senate --
Constitutional basis --
Privileges : immunities --
Relationship between immunities and powers --
Immunities and powers part of ordinary law --
Executive privilege --
IMMUNITIES OF THE HOUSES --
Immunity of proceedings from impeachment and question --
Statutory declaration of freedom of speech : background of the 1987 Act --
Effect of the 1987 Act --
Is the 1987 Act too restrictive ? --
Activities incidental to proceedings --
Repetition of parliamentary statements --
Provision of information to members --
Subpoenas, search warrants and members --
Prosecution of members --
Circulation of petitions --
Freedom of speech in state parliaments --
Other tribunals --
Parliamentary privilege and statutory secrecy provisions --
Preparation and publication of documents --
Qualified privilege --
Minor immunities --
Detention of senators --
POWERS OF THE HOUSES --
Power of the Houses to determine their own constitution --
Power to conduct inquiries --
Rights of witnesses --
Power to punish contempts --
Statutory definition of contempt --
Defamation of the Houses and their members --
Matters constituting contempts --
Contempts and criminal offences --
Criticisms of the power of the Houses to deal with contempts --
Should the power to deal with contempts be transferred to the courst? --
Penalties for contepts --
PROCEDURAL MATTERS --
raising of matters of privilege --
"waiver" of privilege --
Proceedings before the privilege Committee --
Abuse of parliamentary immunity : right of reply --
Reference to Senate proceedings in court proceedings --
PARLIAMENTARY PRECINCTS --
Police powers in the precincts --
CHAPTER 3 --
PUBLICATION OF SANATE PROCEEDINGS --
proceedings public --
Reporting of proceedings --
Broadcasting of proceedings --
Broadcasting and privilege --
Journals of the Senate --
Notice Paper --
Hansard --
Committee proceeding --
Other publications --
Internet publication --
Illustration : First page, Journals of the senate, 22 March 2004 --
Illustration : First page, Senate Notice Paper, 11 February 2004 --
CHAPTER 4 --
ELECTIONS FPR THE SANATE --
The constitutional framework --
Bases of the constitutional arrangements --
Terms of state senators --
Periodical elections --
Issue of writs --
Electoral rolls --
Nomination --
Polling --
Voting --
The ballot paper --
Counting the vote --
Formal voting in a Senate election --
Determining the successful candidates --
Recounts --
Disputed returns and Qualifications --
Return of the writ --
Meeting of new parliament --
Division of the Senate --
Casual vacancies --
Filling casual vacancies --
territory senators --
Illustration : Senate ballot paper --
CHAPTER 5 --
OFFICERS OF THE SENATE : PARLIAMENTARY ADMINISTRATION --
The President of the Senate --
Election and vacation of office of president --
Tittle and precedence of President --
Deputy President and Chair of Committees --
Temporary Chairs --
Rulings of the Chair --
Question to the President --
Absence of President and Deputy President --
Voting by President and Deputy President --
The Clerk of the Senate --
The Department of the Senate --
Senate's appropriations and staffing --
Other Departments --
CHAPTER 6 --
SENATORS --
Qualifications of senators --
Determination of disqualifications --
Designation of senators --
Senators-elect --
Oath or affirmation of office --
CHAPTER 7 --
METTING OF THE SENATE --
Executive government's power to determine sessions --
Parliaments and sessions --
Place of meeting --
Opening of a new Parliament --
CHAPTER 8 --
CONDUCT OF PROCEEDINGS --
Quorum --
Notice Paper --
Routine of business --
Special precedence for certain business --
CHAPTER 9 --
MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS --
Resolutions and orders --
Motions --
Notice of motion --
Contingent notice --
Formal motions --
CHAPTER 10 --
DEBATE --
Motions debatable --
Right to speak --
Time limits on debates and speeches --
Reading of documents --
CHAPTER 11 --
VOTING AND DIVISIONS --
Majority voting --
Special majorities --
Voting by voices --
Divisions --
CHAPTER 12 --
LEGISLATION --
Proposed laws --
Proceedings on legislation --
Initiation --
Deadline for receipt of bills from Houses --
First readings --
CHAPTER 13 --
FINANCIAL LEGISLATION --
Section 53 of the Constitution --
Type of financial legislation ---
Appropriation bills --
Taxation bills --
Lona bills --
Advances --
CHAPTER 14 --
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PROCEEDINGS --
Appointment of committee --
Chair of Committee --
Proceedings in committee --
Quorum --
CHAPTER 15 --
DELEGATED LEGISATION AND DISALLOWANCE --
Executive law-making --
Types and volume of delegated legislation --
Parliamentary control : historical background --
CHAPTER 16 --
COMMITTEES --
Role of committees --
Types of committees --
Evolution of the committees system --
Standing domestic committees --
CHAPTER 17 --
WITNESSES --
Inquires and witnesses --
Protection of witnesses --
CHAPTER 18 --
DOCUMENTS TABLED IN THE SENATE --
Tabling of documents --
Types of tabled documents --
Orders for production of document --
CHAPTER 19 --
RELATIONS WITH THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT --
the senate and the ministry --
The Governor-General and the Senate --
Ministers in the Senate --
CHAPTER 20 --
RELATIONS WITH THE JUDICIARY --
Appointment and removal of judges --
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS --
Section 72 and other provisions --
the meaning of misbehaviour --
CHAPTER 21 --
RELATIONS WITH THE HOUSES OF REPRESENTATIVES --
Communications between the two Houses --
Messages --
Conferences.