Editing Australian Senate (section)

===Size and nexus===
Under [[Section 24 of the Constitution of Australia|Section 24 of the Constitution]], the number of members of the House of Representatives has to be "as nearly as practicable" double the number of senators.

The reasons for the nexus are twofold: a desire to maintain a constant influence for the smaller states, and maintain a constant balance of the two Houses in the event of a joint sitting after a double dissolution. A [[1967 Australian referendum (Parliament)|referendum in 1967]] to eliminate the nexus was rejected.

The size of the Senate has changed over the years. The Constitution originally provided for six senators for each state, resulting in a total of 36 senators.

The Constitution permits the Parliament to increase the number of senators, provided that equal numbers of senators from each original state are maintained; accordingly, in 1948, Senate representation was increased from 6 to 10 senators for each state, increasing the total to 60.

In 1975, the two territories, the [[Northern Territory]] and the [[Australian Capital Territory]], were given an entitlement to elect two senators each for the first time, bringing the number to 64.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|sota1973408|Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973}}</ref> The senators from the Northern Territory also represent constituents from Australia's Indian Ocean Territories ([[Christmas Island]] and the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]), while the senators from the Australian Capital Territory also represent voters from the [[Jervis Bay Territory]] and since 1 July 2016, [[Norfolk Island]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/special_category/Norfolk_Island_electors.htm |title=Norfolk Island Electors |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |date=2016 |access-date=6 August 2016 |archive-date=15 June 2016 |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20160615042855/http://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/Special_Category/Norfolk_Island_electors.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The latest expansion in Senate numbers took place in 1984, when the number of senators from each state was increased from 10 to 12, resulting in a total of 76 senators.<ref name = "electing">Department of the Senate, ''Senate Brief'' No. 1, [http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/briefs/brief01.htm 'Electing Australia's Senators'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829204046/http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/briefs/brief01.htm |date=29 August 2007 }}. Retrieved August 2007.</ref>