How many Senators are there in each State or Territory?
• Do all States and Territories have the same number of Senators? • What are the similarities/differences? • Why do you think they might differ? Summarise class discussion points on a large poster paper and display. Teacher note: Explain to students that the original States at the time of Federation were guaranteed the same number of Senate representatives. This gave each State equal representation in the Senate. This was to encourage the smaller States to join the Federation in 1901. This equality in representation is enshrined in the Australian Constitution. Originally each State had six Senate representatives, but, because of the growth in Australia’s population, this number has now expanded to twelve. This increase in Senate representation is also determined by the Constitution in what is called the nexus – the number of Senate members must be approximately half the number of the total number of members in the House of Representatives. The two Territories do not have the same numbe
