The NSW State Parliament - Procedures (Lessons 21-22)

What does it mean when Parliament "sits"?

• It needs a rest that day

• It's off that day

• It's meeting that day

• It's waiting for a bus

Answer explanation

A "sitting" is a Parliamentary session on a particular day. Everyone is supposed to attend, to give speeches, ask questions, discuss legislation, vote for/against it it and get on with business.

What is "the Party Room"?

• A room where they hold parties

• Part of a room

• A room for meetings by a political Party

• Any room is a party room!

Answer explanation

The major political Parties have special rooms set aside for Party meetings & socialising.

What happens 15 minutes before Parliament starts?

• A trumpet sounds

• Electronic bells sound

• All members get a text

• A crier with a bell runs around shouting

Answer explanation

No, no town criers are used. Electronic bells sound all through the building, to give members warning that they have to be on the job within 1 minutes (in case they forgot).

There's a big fancy chair in the Legislative Council that is usually empty most of the time. Who is it for?

• The Governor

• The President

• The Premier

• The Speaker

Answer explanation

That chair is for the NSW Governor to open and close Parliament, or to give speeches (rare). The Queen, if she's visiting, can also sit there instead.

The Sergeant-at-Arms (Legislative Assembly) and the Usher of the Black Rod (Legislative Council) do the same job, which is...

• Ceremonial security

• Heavy security

• Helping people find their seats

• Checking ID at the door

Answer explanation

Those jobs are mostly ceremonial, like leading the Members during an official Opening, but they do have the task of enforcing order (keeping things quiet) and enforcing the orders of the Speaker or President, if they order a member to leave the room, for example. There are real security guards for real threats.

NSW parliament has 2 types of sitting days. These are for:

• Government Business and General Business

• Government Business and Private Business

• Public Business and Private Business

• Big Business and Small Business

Answer explanation

Sitting days are divided between Government Business (motions or Bills are introduced by Ministers) and General Business (everything else)

What happens during Question Time?

• Everyone plays Kahoot!

• Members answer questions from the public

• Members ask questions of other members (usually Ministers)

• The Speaker or President questions the Members

Answer explanation

Members of the Opposition will usually ask Ministers difficult questions to reveal information, or to embarrass them or the Government. Members of the Government will often ask their own Ministers questions so that they can highlight their team's achievements.

How does a Bill (a proposal) become a Law?

(LA = Legislative Assembly, LC = Legislative Council)

• Introduced-->passes LA vote-->passes LC vote-->Governor approves

• Governor approves-->passes LA vote-->passes LC vote

• Introduced-->passes LC vote-->passes LA vote

• Introduced-->Governor approves-->passes LA vote-->passes LC vote

Answer explanation

All Bills set to become Law can only do so after it is approved by the Governor, who is acting on behalf of the Queen and is supposed to be doing what the Queen would want. In reality, the Governor ALWAYS approves Bills that have passed both votes. In theory, they could refuse to approve something, but the situation would have to be pretty extreme!