How many senators are elected from each Australian territory?

• A. Two
• B. One
• C. Three
• D. Four

Answer: (A)

In the Australian system, the Senate is designed to balance representation between the big states and the smaller territories. Each territory elects two senators to sit in the Senate. This is set so that the total Senate composition reflects 12 senators from each state and 2 from each territory, giving the territories a voice without matching the states in numbers. That’s why ACT and Northern Territory each have two senators. The total ends up as 76: six states × 12 plus two territories × 2.

So, the number elected from each territory is two. One would underrepresent territories, while three or four would overrepresent them compared with the states, which would alter the Senate balance established by the Constitution.