A.—s

18

The Bill.

5. The Governor-General may appoint such times for holding the sessions of the Parliament as he thinks fit, and may also from time to time, by Proclamation or otherwise, prorogue the Parliament, and may in like manner dissolve the House of Eepresentatives. After any general election the Parliament shall be summoned to meet not later than thirty days after the day appointed for the return of the writs. The Parliament shall be summoned to meet not later than six months after the establishment of the Commonwealth. 6. There shall be a session of the Parliament once at least in every year, so that twelve months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the Parliament in one session and its first sitting in the next session. Part ll.—The Senate. 7. The Senate shall be composed of Senators for each State, directly chosen by the people of the' State, voting, until the Parliament otherwise provides, as one electorate. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, there shall be six Senators for each Original State. The Parliament may make laws increasing or diminishing the number of Senators for each State, but so that equal representation of the several Original States shall be maintained, and that no Original State shall have less than six Senators. The Senators shall be chosen for a term of six years, and the names of the Senators chosen for each State shall be certified by the Governor to the Governor-General. 8. The qualification of electors of Senators shall be in each State that which is prescribed by this Constitution, or by the Parliament, as the qualification for electors of members of the House of Eepresentatives; but in the choosing of Senators each elector shall vote only once. 9. The Parliament of the Commonwealth may make laws prescribing the method of choosing Senators, but so that the method shall be uniform for all the States. Subject to any such law, the Parliament of each State may make laws prescribing the method of choosing the Senators for that State. The Parliament of a State may make laws for determining the times and places of elections of Senators for the State. 10. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, but subject to this Constitution, the laws in force in each State, for the time being, relating to elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of the State shall, as nearly as practicable, apply to elections of Senators for the State. 11. The Senate may proceed to the despatch of business, notwithstanding the failure of any State to provide for its representation in the Senate. 12. The Governor of any State may cause writs to be issued for elections of Senators for the State. In case of the dissolution of the Senate, the writs shall be issued within ten days from the proclamation of such dissolution. 13. As soon as may be after the Senate first meets, and after each first meeting of the Senate following a dissolution thereof, the Senate shall divide the Senators chosen for each State into two classes, as nearly equal in number as practicable; and-the places of the Senators of the first class shall become vacant at the expiration of the third year, and the places of those of the second class at

Explanation.

Sections 7 to 16. The Senate is composed of six Senators for each State, chosen by the people by the Parliament if it thinks fit. The "one electorate" system may be altered by the Parliament if it thinks fit. The number of Senators may be increased by the Parliament, but no original State may have less than six, and no such State can be deprived of equal representation except by an amendment of the Constitution under clause 127. The first Senate will therefore consist of 30 Senators, assuming that those colonies represented in the Federal Convention accept the Constitution. Senators are chosen for six years, but this term may be cut short by a dissolution under Section 57. In order to provide for the retainment of half the Senators every three years, it is enacted that after the first Senate meets, and after every dissolution, the Senators are divided into two classes, and arrangements are made for the places of Senators of one class to become vacant at the end of the third year from the beginning of their service, and the places of those of the second class at the end of the sixth year from same, and so on. The qualifications of election of Senators are the same as those of members of the House of Eepresentatives, but in choosing Senators no elector may vote more than once. The qualifications of Senators are the same as those of the members of the House of Eepresentatives. Until the Federal Parliament legislates on the subject, the Parliament of each State may prescribe the method of choosing Senators. The Parliament of a State may appoint the times and places for election of the Senators. The Governor of a State issues writs for election of Senators, and certifies to the Governor-General the names of Senators chosen. If the place of a Senator becomes vacant by death or resignation, &c, his successor is elected to hold the place only for the unexpired term. Mode of filling casual vacancies : —(1) If the Houses of Parliament of a State are not in session at occurrence of vacancy, the Governor of State, with advice of Executive Council, may appoint a person to hold office as Senator (a) until the beginning of next session of State Parliament, or (b) until the next general election of members of the House of Eepresentatives, or (c) until the next ordinary triennial election of Senators, whichever first happens. (2.) If the Houses of the State Parliament are in session at the occurrence of the vacancy, the members of both Houses sitting and voting together shall choose a person to hold the place (a) until the expiration of the term, or (b) until the next general election of