The maximum life of a Parliament is five years, at the end of which Parliament must be dissolved and a general election held. However, the Prime Minister may advise the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament at any time within the five years and name a date for a general election. Also, Parliament must be dissolved and a general election held if a majority of all the members of the House of Representatives supports a no-confidence motion against the Government. 

Not more than four ministers can be appointed from the Senate, and they may have portfolio responsibilities. The Senate usually functions as a review chamber, considering bills passed by the House of Representatives. But the Senate may also initiate legislation, except money bills. It cannot delay money bills for more than one month nor any other Bill for more than seven months. 

At the first meeting of a newly-appointed Senate, or when there is a vacancy, senators elect a President and a Deputy President, A minister or parliamentary secretary may not hold office as President or Deputy President. 

The Government in power can only exist if it has the support of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives. In practice, most bills are initiated in the House of Representatives. 

No Bill may become law unless it is passed by a majority of the members present in the House. The quorum of the House is 16 in addition to the person presiding. 

The House of Representatives has control over the Government's finances. Funds cannot be granted nor taxation levied without the approval of the House. 

Bills may be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, but no Bill involving finance can be introduced in the Senate. 

"Public Bills", designed to give effect to Government policy, are introduced by Ministers or other officers of the Government. "Private Members' Bills are introduced by any other member of the House, whether of the governing party or of the Opposition. 

After a Bill has been introduced in the House it must pass through several stages, known as "readings." 

First Reading: At "first reading"no debate on the Bill is allowed. The "short title"of the Bill is read by the Clerk of the House, the Bill is ordered to be printed and a day is appointed by the member in charge of the bill for the second reading. 

Second Reading: The Bill is debated fully at the "second reading." At the end of the debate a vote is taken. 

Committee Stage: If the Bill passes its second reading it moves on to the "committee state." This committee comprises the whole House unless the House refers the Bill to a "Select Committee." At this point, the Bill is considered in very close detail. Every clause is carefully examined, and amendments to the Bill may then be moved and voted upon. A Bill may not be rejected during the committee stage, as this power is reserved for the House. 

Report Stage: After the committee stage, there is the "report stage," when the Speaker reports what has happened to the Bill in committee, 
whether there have been amendments or not. 

Third Reading: No amendments of a substantial nature may be made at the "third reading;" a Bill may be accepted or rejected by means of a vote. 

When a Bill is first passed by the House of Representatives, if is sent to the Senate, where it goes through the same procedure as one which originated in the "Lower House." 

If the Senate disagrees with any aspect of the Bill and makes an amendment, the Bill is sent back to the House of Representatives for consideration. If the House disagrees with the Senate's amendment, it informs the Senate, which is then asked to reconsider the Bill. 

When agreement is reached and the Bill has been passed through all its stages in both Houses, it requires only the Royal Assent to make it law. The Royal Assent is given by the Governor- General. 

The procedure for money Bills differs from that for ordinary Bills. The revenue and expenditure are settled in the following way. Government ministers put forward resolutions stating what money will be spent and how. These estimates are debated by the House in committee. When the various resolutions have been agreed to, they are incorporated into Bills, which are passed in the usual way. 

When a new Government is elected, or when there is a vacancy for the office of Prime Minister, the Governor-General appoints as Prime Minister the member of the House of Representatives who, in the Governor-General's judgement, is best able to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House. This is, in practice, the leader of the majority party in the House. 

The Prime Minister forms and presides over the Cabinet. He advises the Queen on the appointment of the Governor-General and he advises the Governor General on the appointment of the six members of the Privy Council, on the dissolution of Parliament and on appointments of the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal and the three services commissions. 

In the case of the appointments of the senior members of the judiciary and the services commissions, however, the Prime Minister's advice is given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. 

The Prime Minister also nominates 13 of the 21 members of the Senate.