What is Parliament
Parliaments have not always existed. They have evolved over hundreds of years. Wars were fought and people imprisoned, exiled or even killed in order for us to have the system of government that we take for granted today.
Prior to the development of parliaments, people were ruled by a monarch. This person got to be in charge because he or she was born into the right family. The monarch was called an absolute monarch because he or she had absolute power. They made all the decisions and no one could question them, even if they were wrong. If the monarch was a good and kind person then things were good but often the monarch was selfish and greedy and did not realise how his or her decisions affected the people.
Over the years people began to demand more of a say in how the country was run. Today Australia is a constitutional monarchy. That means that we have a queen but that her powers are limited by a series of rules known as a constitution.
List some of the things that happen in Parliament.
What is the difference between parliament and government?
Parliaments have changed quite significantly over the last few hundred years. What do you think Parliaments might look like in two hundred years time? You may either draw a diagram or write a paragraph.
Parliament
Tags: government, parliament, politic
