federal
having to do with the national Parliament or government rather that state parliaments or governments
Federal Executive Council
the council of ministers which advises the Governor-General and gives legal form to cabinet decisions
federalism
a system of government in which powers and responsibilities are divided between a national government and provincial or state governments
federation
the forming of a nation by the union of a number of states, each of which retains some power to govern itself, while ceding some powers to a national government. In Australia, the creation of a single nation in 1901 by the joining together of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania
filibuster
the use of long speeches or other tactics in Parliament to delay deliberately a vote or decision
financial initiative (of the Crown)
the rule that only the government can begin the process of setting or increasing taxes or of making an appropriation that draws on public funds
financial power (of the Parliament)
the power of the Parliament to approve all expenditure proposals by the government
financial year
a 12-month period, usually 1 July to 30 June, at the end of which a government or company balances its accounts and reports on them
first chamber
a name for the lower and usually larger house of a legislature; in Australia, the House of Representatives
first reading
the first stage in the progress through a house of a bill (also called its initiation), marked by the reading by the Clerk out loud for the first time of the long title of a bill, usually straight after it is presented to the house
first speech (formerly maiden speech)
the first speech in Parliament by a newly-elected member, when the member is traditionally heard without interjection or interruption
first-past-the-post
a way of voting where the candidate who gets the largest number of votes wins, even if it is less than half the votes cast
fixed term
a term of office with a defined beginning and end
floor of the Senate/House of Representatives
the area containing Senators and Members seats and the area in between, in the chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives
formal business
1. business before the Senate on which Senators agree unanimously to make a decision without debate
2. business which concerns the arrangements of a house, and not major issues
free vote
a vote in Parliament in which members are free to vote according to their own judgment or belief, and not necessarily according to the guidelines, policies or decisions of their political party
freedom of information
the principle that citizens should have a right to see most government papers and reports, particularly those which relate to their personal affairs
frontbench/er
1. those members of Parliament who are ministers or shadow ministers
2. the seats where such members sit