Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2013Q00005:body:0:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2013Q00005
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 13376–16045

laws increasing or diminishing the number of senators for each State, but so that equal representation of the several Original States shall be maintained and that no Original State shall have less than six senators.

  The senators shall be chosen for a term of six years, and the names of the senators chosen for each State shall be certified by the Governor to the Governor-General.

8.  Qualification of electors.

  The qualification of electors of senators shall be in each State that which is prescribed by this Constitution, or by the Parliament, as the qualification for electors of members of the House of Representatives; but in the choosing of senators each elector shall vote only once.

9.  Method of election of senators.

  The Parliament of the Commonwealth may make laws prescribing the method of choosing senators, but so that the method shall be uniform for all the States.  Subject to any such law, the Parliament of each State may make laws prescribing the method of choosing the senators for that State.

Times and places.

  The Parliament of a State may make laws for determining the times and places of elections of senators for the State.

10.  Application of State laws.

  Until the Parliament otherwise provides, but subject to this Constitution, the laws in force in each State, for the time being, relating to elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of the State shall, as nearly as practicable, apply to elections of senators for the State.

11.  Failure to choose senators.

  The Senate may proceed to the despatch of business, notwithstanding the failure of any State to provide for its representation in the Senate.

12.  Issue of writs.

  The Governor of any State may cause writs to be issued for elections of senators for the State. In case of the dissolution of the Senate the writs shall be issued within ten days from the proclamation of such dissolution.

13.  Rotation of senators.

  As soon as may be after the Senate first meets, and after each first meeting of the Senate following a dissolution thereof, the Senate shall divide the senators chosen for each State into two classes, as nearly equal in number as practicable; and the places of the senators of the first class shall become vacant at the expiration of three years, and the places of those of the second class at the expiration of six years, from the beginning of their term of service; and afterwards the places of senators shall become vacant at the expiration of six years from the beginning of their term of service.

  The election to fill vacant places shall be made within one year before the places are to become vacant.

  For