a lesson

Lesson 11 Legislation: Passing a Bill in the Senate: Hands on Lesson Plans: Teachers; PEO, Parliament of Australia

Main activity
Choosing a bill

1. Tell the class they are senators and will amend an urgent, contentious bill—The Asian Bird Flu Bill 2006 (or a similar disaster bill) that has already passed the House.
2. Write the title of the bill in its short title e.g. The Asian Bird Flu Bill , 2006 and in its long title e.g. A Bill for an Act to protect Australia from Asian Bird Flu.
3. Write the details of the bill (clauses) as passed by the House, underneath the long title: e.g.
* Increase Commonwealth Serum Laboratory spending by 100%
* Double personnel numbers in Health Department infectious disease divisions.
* Triple humanitarian medical aid to regional neighbours combating Asian Bird Flu.
4. Critically consider the appropriateness of the bill as it stands and consider possible improvements to the clauses of the bill e.g.
* Increase Commonwealth Serum Laboratory finance for the manufacture of anti-viral medicine.
* Freeze all cross-border movement in and out of Australia.
Quarantine anyone showing cold or flu symptoms and ban visits.

Preparing for debate

1. Select a President and two clerks to direct proceedings and ask them to study the Path of a Bill diagram (below) and the law-making scripts. (see Lesson Resource, An Urgent Bill in the Senate script)
2. Divide the class so that the government and opposition are equal in numbers and the smaller remainder make up the Independents and minor parties. (e.g. 11 government, 11 opposition, 2 independents and 5 minor party senators)
3. Party groupings discuss the bill separately and determine their position. ( the government will argue for the bill; the opposition, minor parties and Independents will seek to amend the three clauses of the bill)

Debate

1. A bell is rung to start the proceedings and the President and clerks direct the amendment debate.
2. When the debate is exhausted the chamber votes on the bill.

Debrief

1. What changes to the bill were made and how did the non-government senators achieve this?
2. Why do you think the passage of a bill is divided into definite stages?
3. Despite the urgency of the bill, why is it important the Senate deliberated as it did?
4. Why are the President and clerks so important to chamber proceedings?


* Why are amendments more likely to occur in the Senate than the House of Representatives? (proportional voting, more minor party representation, House of Review)
* Name a bill recently amended by the Senate. Why was it amended and how did non-government senators do it?