Parliament & Executive

Essay Questions

Dates in brackets indicate that the question appeared on the Victorian Year 12 Politics examination paper in that year.

'There are a number of factors which prevent the House of Representatives and the Senate from performing their roles effectively.' To what extent do you agree? (2002)
'The Australian Prime Minister has considerable power, however there are a number of ways in which this power can be constrained.' To what extent do you agree? (2002)
"The Australian Federal Parliament has important functions to fulfil. However, in practice, few of these functions are performed effectively." To what extent do you agree? (2001)
"Cabinet dominates the ministry and the parliament." To what extent do you agree? (2001)
What are the roles of the key players in the Australian Federal Parliament? How effective are the key players in carrying out these roles? (2000)
"The composition, selection and roles of the Cabinet are significantly different from those of the Ministry." To what extent do you agree with this statement? (2000)
"Although the Senate performs some very important roles in the Australian political system, it is an institution which should be extensively reformed." Discuss. (1999)
"Governments and Oppositions have very different aims in Parliament and hence use very different tactics to achieve their goals." Discuss. (1999)
"In the Australian political system, the Prime Minister has a dominant position in relation to the Cabinet, other Ministers and to Parliament." Discuss. (1999)
What are the sources of ministerial power in the Australian political system? To what extent and for what reasons are ministers held responsible for this power? (1999)
"Parliament has no real power. It simply confirms decisions which have already been made elsewhere." Discuss with reference to both the House of Representatives and the Senate. (1998)
In what ways do the procedures of Parliament allow it to operate effectively? In what ways do these procedures need to be reformed? (1998)
"Although Prime Ministers exercise great power in Australian politics, that power is shared with many others." Discuss. (1998)
In theory, the Governor General holds considerable power and has many responsibilities. To what extent is this true in practice? (1998)
"Executive domination means that the Parliament cannot perform its functions effectively." Discuss with reference to both the House of Representatives and the Senate. (1997)
Analyse the factors which either help or hinder an Opposition's ability to perform its functions effectively in both Houses of Federal Parliament. (1997)
"Ministerial responsibility is a very important convention but it is ignored in practice." Discuss with reference to Commonwealth Governments in the 1980s and 1990s. (1997)
"Although Cabinet is the most powerful branch of government, it is subject to many checks and balances in the Australian political system." Discuss. (1997)
"Real power in the federal parliament resides in the Senate, since it is there that government legislation may be effectively challenged." Discuss. (1991)
How important is the role of the backbencher in the effective operation of the parliamentary system of government? (1991)
"The complexity of modern government makes its difficult to apply the principle of ministerial responsibility." Discuss. (1991)
"Regardless of the conventions of Cabinet government, the Prime Minister is always more than just the first among equals." Discuss. (1991)
"A bicameral system is essential for effective democracy in Australia." Discuss. (1990)
"A strong and united opposition is a vital ingredient of a healthy parliamentary democracy." To what extent do you agree? (1990)
"The Hawke ascendancy has forced a reassessment of the view that Labor prime ministers can never be as powerful as Liberal ones." (1990)
"A politically neutral public service is neither possible nor desirable." (1990)
"Governments regard parliament as a necessary inconvenience; oppositions regard it as their most important forum." Discuss. (1989)
"In theory parliament has great power; in practice, except on rare occasions, it has practically none." Discuss. (1989)
"Ministers state policy; public servants make policy." Discuss. (1989)
"In theory the prime minister is 'first among equals'; in practice he dominates both ministry and parliament." Discuss. (1989)
"Although their roles differ, the House of Representatives and the Senate actually complement each other." Discuss. (1988)
"Parliament is more than just a symbol of democracy; it has a very real effect upon the operation of the political system." Discuss. (1988)
"The Federal Opposition is usually better able to achieve its objectives by working outside rather than inside the Parliament." Discuss. (1987)
"The backbench member of the Senate and House of Representatives must serve party, electorate and parliament, thereby serving none of them well." Discuss. (1987)
"Despite the events of 1975, the Governor-General in Australia is little more than a figurehead." Discuss. (1987)
The Public Service can never be neutral because it must loyally serve the government of the day." (1987)
"The most important function of the Senate is as a house of review." Discuss. (1986)
Assess the impact that political parties have had upon the operations and effectiveness of the Australian parliament. (1986)
"The convention of ministerial responsibility is no longer maintained in the Australian political system." Discuss. (1986)
What role do public servants play in the formulation of government policy? How could this role be improved? (1986)
Do we benefit by having two houses in the Australian Parliament? (1985)
"Parliament is often criticised as just a 'talking shop' with all decisions cut and dried; and that, except for giving members of the House and the Senate the opportunity to let off a bit of "steam" or "hot air", it serves little purpose as a forum for debate." Discuss this point of view. (1985)
"Labor cabinets are more democratic but less efficient than Liberal/National Party cabinets." Discuss with reference to the period since 1972. (1985)
Discuss the role of the Governor-General in the Australian political system. (1985)
Discuss the functions and evaluate the power of the Senate. (1984)
Discuss the role of the Opposition in the Australian Parliament. What criteria would you use to assess how well this role is performed? (1984)
"The Commonwealth Public Service needs to be made more accountable, more efficient and more open to outside talent." Discuss. (1984)
Discuss the roles of the Prime Minister, Cabinet and the Commonwealth Public Service in the system of executive government in Australia. (1984)
Does Parliament control the Executive, or has the Executive come to control Parliament? (1983)
- Notes
How responsible is a minister for the functioning of the department (or departments) and the statutory authorities within his/her portfolio? (1983)
"The conventions of cabinet government seem to have been increasingly ignored over the last decade." (1982)
Discuss the relationship between public servants and cabinet in formulating and implementing government policies. (1982)
Compare the functions of the House of Representatives and the Senate in theory and in practice. (1979)
The view is often expressed that there is a need for parliamentary reform in Australia. What are some of the reforms which have been proposed? To what extent would the implementation of these reforms improve the effectiveness of Parliament? (1979)
Compare and contrast the functions of the Senate and the House of Representatives in Australian government and politics. How important is the parliament in maintaining democracy in Australia? (1975)
"Whilst the Australian Parliament functions well as a representative body, it has failed to fulfill the goal of holding the elected government accountable." Discuss.
"The tight party structure in Australia has hindered the operation of the Federal Parliament, contrary to democratic values." Discuss.
"If Parliament is to regain its rightful place in the Australian political process, reforms to both houses need to be undertaken immediately." Discuss.
"Parliament is essentially an irrelevant institution in Australia. The Executive Government dominates to such an extent that Parliament's legislative and representative functions are not fulfilled." Discuss.
"The Senate is the sole remaining bulwark in Australia against an all-powerful Executive." Discuss.
"The reality of Parliament is that the government can always use its majority to withstand criticism and opposition." Discuss.
"The Senate has variously been described as "the best proof of life after death", "the most powerful second chamber in the world" and "a mirror image of the lower house." To what extent does the Senate make a constructive contribution to our parliamentary system?
"The performance and activities of the Opposition in Parliament are crucial to its chances of electoral success." Discuss.
"The modern Parliament is merely a stage on which the participants play pre-determined roles. Parliament simply ratifies decisions made elsewhere." To what extent is this a fair picture of the parliamentary process?
"Since 1975, the Senate has assumed greater power and importance." Discuss.
"The role of the Opposition is to challenge, criticise and always oppose the Government of the day; but the opportunities are limited." Discuss.
"The backbencher fulfils an important role inside and outside Parliament." Analyse this role, and comment on the difficulties that might be expected.
"Although the Parliament is dominated by the Executive, it still has great symbolic significance." To what extent do you agree?
"Recent experience suggests that when there is a Government majority in the Senate, the Senate becomes redundant, but when there is an Opposition majority it becomes an obstruction to effective government." Is this statement an accurate assessment of the Senate's function in the Australian Federal Parliament?
"The role of parliamentary backbenchers today is largely meaningless." Discuss.
"Under Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard, the role of the Australian Prime Minister has been expanded greatly in relation to other ministers." Discuss.
"Real power in the Australian political system resides in the Federal Ministry and its committees." Discuss.
"The principles of Collective and Individual Ministerial Responsibility have both been eroded in recent years." Discuss.
"Under the Australian Constitution, the Governor-General is nothing more than a figurehead, lacking real political power." Discuss.
"The Public Service is where real political influence lies in Australia." Discuss.
"A Prime Minister's power is largely dependent upon his or her electoral appeal and force of personality." Discuss.
"Effective government is as dependent on the Public Service as it is on the Ministers." Discuss.
"Ministers are far too dependent upon the expertise and loyalty of the Public Service." Discuss.
"The Prime Minister, from whatever party, is the most dominating force in Cabinet." Do you agree?
"Cabinet solidarity is an effective mechanism for good government." Discuss.
"In Australia, ministerial accountability has been carried to the extreme and is counterproductive to effective government." Discuss.
"The Governor-General and the Prime Minister are the most important figures in our system of Executive Government." Discuss but comparing and contrasting their roles.
How significant have been the differences in the operation or recent Labor and Liberal-National Party cabinets?
"Ministerial responsibility is now honoured more in the breach than in the observance." Discuss.
"There are important opportunities and restrictions affecting the Prime Minister's ability to establish his power and position in Australia's parliamentary government." Discuss.
"The opportunities are many, the restrictions are few, for the Prime Minister exercising personal and political power."
How important are the conventions of Cabinet government in Australian politics and administration today?
"The Prime Minister is the conductor of the orchestra." What is the role of the Prime Minsiter in Australia today, and does it vary according to the party in power?
"Ministerial responsibility in concept and consequence is no longer strictly adhered to in Australia." Discuss.

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