What are some of the differences between the Senate and the House of Representatives?

Thanks for this really interesting question, Blake.

While they have many similarities, there are also quite a few differences between the Senate and the House of Representatives:

  • Government is formed in the House of Representatives. By tradition, the Prime Minister and the Treasurer are members of the House. The Prime Minister leads the government and the Treasurer sits in the House of Representatives as appropriation bills – proposed laws to spend money – can only originate in the House.
  • There are 76 senators who represent their state or territory. There are 151 members of the House who represent their electorate.
  • The Senate is red and the House is green.
  • Each also has a different symbol. In the Senate, it is the Black Rod, while in the House of Representatives it is the Mace.
The front of Australian Parliament House with the Great Verandah and the flagmast. In the foreground is water.

Australian Parliament House.

DPS Auspic

Australian Parliament House.

The front of Australian Parliament House with the Great Verandah and the flagmast. In the foreground is water.

DPS Auspic

Description

This photo shows the front of Parliament House with the Great Verandah and the flagmast. In the foreground Michael Nelson Jagamara's Possum and Wallaby Dreaming mosaic is surrounded by water.

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.