Senate voting needs to be simpler and more transparent. Brian Costar talks to Peter Clarke about a plan to fix the system, and looks at the politics of the federal budget.

Notwithstanding the differences, the Australian and American Senates are comparable in being among the very strongest upper houses in the world, and in demonstrating the value of bicameralism in democratic governance. US political scientist Stanley Bach analyses the major differences between the Australian and US upper houses.

In a paper prepared for the PSP's Democratic Audit of Australia, Harry Evans, the Clerk of the Senate, comments on the Prime Minister's recent proposals to reform the Senate. He notes that the proposals aim at ensuring government legislation is passed and rejects claims that the government has a mandate to get its way. Attempts...