(Australia) Explainer: what is a double-dissolution election and how risky is it to call one?

[unhappycamper]

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/mar/21/explainer-what-is-a-double-dissolution-election-and-how-risky-is-it-to-call-one

With a deadlock over the passage of two pieces of legislation, the government has grounds to dissolve both houses of parliament. But history has shown an election on such grounds hasn’t always turned out in the government’s favour

Explainer: what is a double-dissolution election and how risky is it to call one?
Shalailah Medhora
Monday 21 March 2016 03.42 EDT

What is a double-dissolution election?

A double dissolution is when the governor general – usually on the advice of the prime minister – dissolves both houses of parliament in preparation for an election. Senators are elected for six years, whereas MPs have a three-year term, so in normal elections only half the Senate faces the voters. The other half stay on regardless of who is elected in the House of Representatives. The drafters of the constitution thought this would offer a degree of continuity in the governance of the country. In a double dissolution, all Senate spots are up for grabs.

Why have one?

Double-dissolution elections are called when there is a deadlock over the passage of legislation. Governments are formed by having a majority of seats in the lower house, but often do not have a majority in the Senate, so deadlocks arise frequently. Double dissolutions effectively put the fate of the contested legislation in the hands of the voters.

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Do we have grounds for a double dissolution now?

Yes. The government can call a double dissolution if legislation has been rejected by, or failed to pass, the Senate twice, with a gap of at least three months after the first rejection.

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What does that mean for the timing of the election?

A double dissolution must be called not less than six months before the House of Representatives’ three-year term expires. That doesn’t give the government much time – it must call a double dissolution by 11 May.