In this discussion paper John Uhr ranks parliaments against four key values - political equality, popular control of government, civil liberties and human rights and public deliberation. The Senate emerges in a positive light, particularly in relation to proportional representation, scrutiny of legislation and the committee system. Uhr rates negatively the low number of private...

Based on a continuation of current population growth patterns and the current parliament serving its full term, redistributions will be held in the ACT and are likely to be held in New South Wales and Queensland during the life of the Parliament. Gerard Newman discusses why and how.

Norm Kelly, a former Member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia and a soon to be member of the Political Science Program at the Australian National University, takes a look at the advantages that follow when minor parties achieve parliamentary party status.

August 2004 sees the thirtieth anniversary of the joint sitting of Parliament held shortly after the double dissolution election of 18 May 1974. in this Research Note Scott Bennett looks at how the joint sitting was organised and discusses the politics surrounding this event.

This electronic brief provides a survey of parliamentary debate during the establishment of the parliamentary pension scheme for senators and members. By outlining the basis upon which the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Bill 1948 was introduced, the e-brief hopes to assist debate on proposed changes to the scheme in 2004. A selective chronology of legislative amendments...