Are political parties mentioned or written in the Australian Constitution?
Thanks for your question.
Political parties were not mentioned in the Australian Constitution until 1977 when section 15 – which outlines how casual vacancies in the Senate are filled – was amended. While political parties are now generally mentioned, no specific party is named. Under the change, if the vacating senator represented a political party, the vacancy is filled by a member of the same political party.
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The House of Representatives.
![The green House of Representatives. There are people sitting in seats arranged in a U-shape.](/assets/images/image-library/Parliament-and-its-people/the-house-of-representatives/HOR-I-002_130438_581_Reps__FitMaxWzgwMCw4MDBd.jpg)
DPS Auspic
Description
This image is of a large room with green furnishings. The seats are arranged around a large central table. There is a large chair at the open end of the U-shaped seats that is elevated above the other chairs. There are people sitting in the seats and papers on the desks.
Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.