Standing Orders

These rules of procedure can be embedded into any classroom when students are considering two or more opposing viewpoints, or debating topics, to ensure that a safe and orderly environment is maintained. If you want to make a more spirited debate, you can add chants of “hear, hear!” or “shame, shame!” when students agree or disagree with any points made. This resource is designed to be used flexibly, you may want to utilise all of the Standing Orders in your classroom or only one element.

Writing a bill

If you are wanting to reflect a true parliamentary debate, members of parliament do not debate questions, rather they debate bills that include how, when and under what circumstances a potential law would apply. Members of parliament may also debate the specific clauses within a bill (this happens in an optional stage of the Second Reading).

Below is an example of how a question maybe turned into a bill.

Question: Should Australia Ban Mullets?

Would become

Bill title: Hair Regulation (Ban the Mullet) Bill 2024

Bill clauses:

• Only celebrities can sport ‘fashionable’ mullets
• Hairstyles be regulated where the difference in length between the sides and back is no more than 5cm
• Penalties will be applied to hairdressers found to be providing mullets, $500 fine for first offence, $1000 fine for second offence, jail for third offence
• Individuals sporting a mullet must have a hair cut by an approved hairdresser.

Students then discuss and debate the practicality and implementation of each point. For example, what makes a ‘celebrity?’ What is fashionable? Can any one sport ‘unfashionable’ mullets? During this process students may vote to amend different aspects of the bill. The majority of students (50% + 1) must agree to vote to change the clause and 50% + 1 must agree to pass the bill once the amendments are made.

• Classroom connections

  The Standing Orders resource can be used across multiple year levels as a way of either introducing, consolidating or revisiting the rules of debate, orderly conduct and respectful conversations. When using this resource, you may like to explore preferential voting in further detail when selecting the Presiding Officer to oversee the debate.

  Grades 5 & 6

  At grades 5 & 6, the information in this resource can be used to explore the processes that support state/territory and federal laws being initiated and passed through parliament (VCCCL012).

  Year 7 & 8

  In Years 7 & 8, students describe key features of government under the Australian Constitution, including the role of the Houses of Parliament and the division of powers (VCCCG018) by exploring the procedures and processes used when debating legislation.

  Years 9 & 10

  In Years 9 & 10, students discuss the role of political parties and independent representatives in Australia’s system of government, including the formation of governments, and explain the process through which government policy is shaped and developed (VCCCG028)

   

  VCE Legal Studies, Sociology and Politics

  The Standing orders can be used to support students’ understanding of the rules of procedure used in each house when parliament is sitting, such as overseeing behaviour, debates and question time. The rules of debate can be used anytime the students engage in discussion when there may be different perspectives on the topic or issue.

   

• Related resources

  How to host a committee inquiry 

  These resources are designed to guide teachers through the process of running a parliamentary committee inquiry with your class, helping students to understand the work of parliamentary committees and the role they play in law reform. Each parliamentary committee have their own standing orders that govern the behaviour of committee members.

   

  How a law is made: Teacher guide

  This resource explores the key differences between rules and laws, and explores the steps involved with creating laws in parliament. The teacher guide includes questions and activities which are designed to encourage students to think critically about the law-making process.

   

  How a law is made: Video series

  This series of short videos explores the process of passing a bill through parliament, from identifying the initial need through to Royal Assent and the bill becoming an Act of Parliament, in other words a law.

   

  Parliament of Victoria Explains 

  The Parliament of Victoria explains series of videos includes three animations that describe core processes relating to the work of parliament.

  How parliament makes laws follows the process of the introduction of a bill into parliament, its passage through both Houses, to receiving Royal Assent.

  How parliament’s committees work explores the purpose of and types of parliamentary committees, the non-partisan nature of committees, as well as the overall committee process.

  Finally, How parliament’s elections work explains the systems of voting to elect the 128 Members of the Parliament of Victoria; preferential voting for the 88 members of the Legislative Assembly and proportional voting for the 40 members of the Legislative Council.

   

  Mission Control 

  The Mission Control program encourages students to think critically about the skills and knowledge needed for a successful mission to Mars, including debating and voting on industries to send on the mission, mirroring Victoria’s parliament processes. They work collaboratively to complete a hands-on design challenge as they consider how to sustainably power operations, feed the population, and communicate across the far reaches of space.

   

  Representation and democracy

  This resource explores the different forms of representation, the principles of democracy and how democracy and representation works in Victoria. Through the activities provided, students explore how the different methods of representation affect decision making and compare and contrast direct and representative democracy.