Separation Of Powers In Australia Essay

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The commonwealth of Australian Constitution Act (1900) sets out a type of separation of powers between the legislative power (section 1), executive power (section 61) and judicial power (section 71). The law making power is vested in the Federal Parliament, the executive power is vested in the Queen, whom is represented by the Governor-General, advised by the cabinet and the executive council. The judicial power is vested in the Federal Supreme Court, namely the High Court.
The commonwealth constitution allow the High Court to become the interpreter of the commonwealth constitution and to define the separation of power doctrine in the Australian government. The constitution defined the judiciary as a separation of judiciary power from the other powers. The High Court is given the power to maintain the rule of law and define the law-making means for both the legislature and the judiciary.
According to the constitution, the judiciary power is vested in the High Court, Federal courts and the state courts. No other body mentioned are allowed with judicial power, and is explicitly stated in the constitution. The High Court not only interpret the law, but also makes law.
The High Court had somehow justified the interpretation of the separation of law in two aspects. The first aspect is emphasized on the purpose of maintaining the …show more content…

The Governor-General, appointed to represent the British Crown, appoints the Ministers to administer the State Departments. According to Section 64 of the constitution, the Ministers appointed are to sit in the Federal Parliaments. The Prime Minister of the government is elected from the House of Representatives. The law making power is also given to the executive, especially in the hands of the governor-general. It however, is not delegated enough power to legislate without restrictions, for example, imposing

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