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- Cabinet
The key group of decision-makers in the government, consisting of the Prime Minister and top-level ministers.
More information: Cabinet- Cabinet Room
A highly secure room in Parliament House where the Cabinet meets.
- candidate
A person standing for election to Parliament.
- casting vote
(see also deliberative vote)
A vote which decides the matter when votes are tied.
More information: Voting in Parliament- casual vacancy
A vacancy that occurs in the Senate if a senator resigns or dies before their term of office has expired.
- caucus
The members of parliament who belong to a particular parliamentary party (usually used in relation to the Australian Labor Party.)
- censure motion
A motion moved in the Senate or the House of Representatives to express disapproval of a member of parliament, a minister or the government.
- chair
The person who is in charge of a meeting.
- chamber
A purpose-built room in the Parliament, in which law-making and debates occur.
- chief minister
The elected leader of the political party, or coalition of parties, forming a territory government.
- clause
A separate numbered item in a bill. A clause becomes a section in an Act.
More information: Making a law- Clerk
The top-level parliamentary officer in the Senate or the House of Representatives.
More information: Clerks- closure
A way of ending a debate and causing a vote to be taken straight away on the matter being discussed, even though some members of parliament may still wish to speak.
- coalition
An agreement between two or more parliamentary parties to create a bigger group and strengthen their position.
- cognate debate
A debate in which two or more separate, but related, matters are discussed at the same time.
- committee of the whole
(see also consideration in detail)
A stage in the passage of a bill through the Senate, in which senators discuss the bill in detail, including any suggested changes.- common law
Law based on custom or court decisions, which works together with statute law made by a parliament.
More information: Sources of law- commonwealth
A group of people of a state or nation united by a common interest.
- Commonwealth Coat of Arms or Coat of Arms
The formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia, used to identify its authority and property.
More information: National symbols- Commonwealth of Australia
The formal name for Australia, established by the Australian Constitution.
- confidence of the House
Having the support of more than half the members of the House of Representatives.
- conscience vote
(see free vote)
- consensus
General agreement on an issue.
- consideration in detail
(see also committee of the whole)
A stage in the passage of a bill through the House of Representatives, in which members discuss the bill in detail, including any suggested changes.- constituent
Someone who votes or lives in an electorate or area represented by a member of parliament.
- constitution
(see also Australian Constitution)
The set of rules by which a state or country is run.- constitutional monarchy
A system of government in which a king or queen is the head of state but has limited power and must follow a constitution and accepted practices known as conventions. In Australia, the powers of the King have been delegated to his representative, the Governor-General.
- council
The law-making body of a local government.
- council chambers
The building where a local council meets.
- councillor
Title for a person elected to local government, also called an alderman.
- court
In the legal system, a place where cases and trials are conducted – also the collective name for the judges that work in a court.
- crossbench
The seats in the Senate or the House of Representatives occupied by minor parties and/or independents.
More information: Independents- cross the floor
The action of a member of a parliamentary party walking across the Senate or the House of Representatives to vote against their party's view.
More information: Crossing the floor