Photo AI
As at 1 July 2019, the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament was as follows: | Gender | Age | |--------|-----------------------| | | Under 45 | 45 and over | Data not available | |--------|-----------|-------------|--------------------| | Senate | 37 | 39 | 15 | | House of Representatives | 46 | 105 | 20 | In your view, to what extent does the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament affect its ability to be representative in law-making? Justify your answer with reference to the table above. - VCE - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 2
As at 1 July 2019, the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament was as follows: | Gender | Age | |--------|-----------------------| | | ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:As at 1 July 2019, the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament was as follows: | Gender | Age | |--------|-----------------------| | | Under 45 | 45 and over | Data not available | |--------|-----------|-------------|--------------------| | Senate | 37 | 39 | 15 | | House of Representatives | 46 | 105 | 20 | In your view, to what extent does the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament affect its ability to be representative in law-making? Justify your answer with reference to the table above. - VCE - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
In your view, to what extent does the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament affect its ability to be representative in law-making?
Answer
To analyze the extent to which the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament affects its ability to represent the people in law-making, we must consider both the gender and age distributions presented in the table.
Gender Considerations
The data shows that in the Senate, there are 37 female members and 39 male members, resulting in a nearly balanced representation. However, in the House of Representatives, there are significantly more males (105) than females (46). This gender imbalance can affect the perspectives and priorities that are considered in law-making.
If the majority of representatives are male, issues that disproportionately affect women may be overlooked. Conversely, an increase in female representation could lead to greater attention to matters such as healthcare, education, and gender equality.
Age Considerations
The age demographics show that both chambers have a significant portion of members aged 45 and over. In the Senate, 39 members fall into this category, compared to 105 in the House of Representatives. This overrepresentation of older members could mean that the age-related concerns of younger Australians are not adequately represented. For instance, issues like climate change and education reforms could either be neglected or not prioritized by those who are further removed from the experiences of younger generations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament should ideally reflect the diversity of the population to ensure that all voices are heard, the current gender and age disparities imply that certain demographics may not be fully represented. This imbalance indicates that the law-making process is likely influenced by the prevailing interests of the majority, potentially leading to decisions that do not adequately reflect the needs and rights of all citizens.