A.—s

The Bill.

28. Every House of Representatives shall continue for three years from the first meeting of the House, and no longer, but may bT? sooner dissolved by the Governor-General. 29. Until the Parliament of the Commonwealth otherwise provides, the Parliament of any State may make laws for determining the divisions in each State for which members of the House of Representatives may be chosen, and the number of members to be chosen for each division. A division shall not be formed out of parts of different States. In the absence of other provision, each State shall be one electorate. 30. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the qualification of electors of members of the House of Representatives shall be in each State that which is prescribed by the law of the State as the qualification of electors of the more numerous House of the Parliament of the State; but in the choosing of members each elector shall vote only once. 31. 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 in the State of members of the House of Representatives. 32. The Governor-General in Council may cause writs to be issued for general elections of members of the House of Representatives, After the first general election the writs shall be issued within ten days from the expiry of a House of Representatives, or from the proclamation of a dissolution thereof. 33. Whenever a vacancy happens in the House of Representatives, the Speaker shall issue his writ for the election of a new member, or if there is no Speaker or if he is absent from the Commonwealth, the Governor-General in Council may issue the writ. 34. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the qualifications of a member of the House of Representatives shall be as follows :— (1.) He must be of the full age of twenty-one years, and must be an elector entitled to vote at the election of members of the House of Representatives or a person qualified to become such elector, and must have been for three years at the least a resident within the limits of the Commonwealth as existing at the time when he is chosen. (2.) He must be a subject of the Queen, either natural-born or for at least five years naturalised under a law of the United Kingdom, or of a colony which has become or becomes a State, or of the Commonwealth, or of a State. 35. The House of Representatives shall, before proceeding to the despatch of any other business, choose a member to be the Speaker of the House, and as often as the office of Speaker becomes vacant the House shall again choose a member to be the Speaker. The Speaker shall cease to hold his office if he ceases to be a member. He may be removed from

Explanation.

admitting new States, the number of Representatives may be increased, in proportion. Sections 28 to 31. House of Representatives to continue for three years. Parliament of a State to determine electoral divisions in such State, and number of members for each division. If Parliament of a State neglect to make such provision, each State shall be one electorate. Qualification of electors of members of House of Representatives to be that prescribed by the laws of State as qualification of electors for Lower House in State, each elector to vote only once. State electoral laws and electoral machinery to be applicable to federal election, so far as practicable. But Federal Parliament may after first election enact uniform laws relating to federal franchise and federal elections. Sections 32 and 33. Governor-General to issue writs for general election of Representatives, the Speaker to issue writs to fill casual vacancies. Note : Governor for State issues writs for election of Senators. Section 34. Qualification of members of House of Representatives —(1) twenty-one years of age ; (2) an elector entitled to vote; (3) or qualified to be an elector; (4) three years resident in Commonwealth; (5) subject of the Queen, either natural-born or naturalized. Sections 35 to 40. Election of Speaker. Absence of Speaker. Vacancy through failure to attend House for two consecutive months. Quorum, one-third of whole House. Questions determined by majority of votes other than the Speaker, who is not to vote except numbers are equal, and then he shall have a casting vote.

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