The Senate

The Senate is one of the two houses of the Federal Parliament, the other one is the House of Representatives. Democratically elected, and with full law making power, it is generally considered to be, apart from the Senate of the United States of America, the most powerful law making upper chamber in the world.

The Senate plays an important role as a check on the power of the government of the day.

About the Senate

The Senate is one of the two houses of the Australian Federal Parliament. It consists of 76 Senators, twelve from each of the six states and two from each of the mainland territories. It has equal power to make laws with the other House of Parliament, the House of Representatives.

The President of the Senate,  is the presiding officer of the Senate whose chief function is to guide and regulate the proceedings in the Senate. The President is also responsible for the administration of the Department of the Senate.

Picture showing the seating layout of the Senate.