Parliament of Victoria

Infobox Legislature
name = Parliament of Victoria
coa_pic = VictoriaParliamentCrest.jpg
coa_res =
coa-pic =
coa-res =
session_room = Victoria Parliament House Melbourne.jpg
house_type = Bicameral
houses = Legislative Council
Legislative Assembly
leader1_type = President of the Legislative Council
leader1 = Bob Smith
party1 = Labor Party
election1 = 19 December 2006
leader2_type = Speaker of Legislative Assembly
leader2 = Jenny Lindell
party2 = Labor Party
election2 = December 19, 2006
members = 128
40 Councilors
88 Assembly Members
p_groups = "Legislative Council:" Labor, Liberal, National, Green, Democratic Labor
"Legislative Assembly:" Labor party, Liberal Party, National Party, Independent
election3 = November 25, 2006
meeting_place = Parliament House, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
website = [http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/ www.parliament.vic.gov.au]

The Parliament of Victoria is a bicameral, or two-house, legislature. It comprises the Queen of Australia, Legislative Assembly or "Lower House" and the Legislative Council or "Upper House". The head of the State Government is the Premier of Victoria.

History

The British Act of Parliament separating Victoria from New South Wales was signed by Queen Victoria on 5 August 1850, to be followed by enabling legislation passed by the New South Wales Legislative Council on 1 July 1851. This was formally the moment of separation of the Colony of Victoria from New South Wales established by Section 1 of the 1851 Act. [http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=17]

However, the Parliament was not formed until 1856 to commence responsible government in Victoria. Parliament has sat at Parliament House, Melbourne since that time, with the exception of the period 1901-1927. During that time Parliament House was used by the Federal Parliament and the Parliament of Victoria sat at the Royal Exhibition Building.

Powers

The Parliament has the power to make any laws for the State of Victoria, Australia. This is subject only to limitations placed on it by the Australian Constitution which specifies which matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth (Federal) Government.

The party or coalition with the most seats in the Legislative Assembly is invited by the Governor of Victoria to form a government. The Governor of Victoria is the representative of the Monarch (Queen Elizabeth II), as Head of State, in Victoria. Among the Governor's vice-regal duties are the opening of Parliament and the signing of Acts which are passed by the Victorian Parliament.

See also

*Government of Victoria
*Victorian Legislative Assembly
*Victorian Legislative Council
*Parliament House, Melbourne
*Parliaments of the Australian states and territories
*Official Openings by the Monarch in Australia

References

* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/ca1975188/ Constitution of Victoria (1975)]

External links

* [http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au Parliament website]