Template talk:Robert Menzies sidebar

Terms refers to periods between elections

From Dauwenkust: "A term of office is the length of time a person serves in a particular elected office" in this case Prime Minister. Also consistant with Menzies article and Rudd Info box"

I disagree with this viewpoint as terms should be about the periods between elections.

John Howard for example served for only one continuous period and it is often noted that he had won four terms in office.

Rudd is not the same as an example because neither of his two periods ever went across two parliamentary terms.

So in this regard it is correct to say that Rudd, unlike Menzies, had two terms. 49.3.72.79 (talk) 07:26, 28 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

If Dauwenkust had looked into more of the term of office article it also says: "In many jurisdictions there is a defined limit on how long terms of office may be before the officeholder must be subject to re-election."

Therefore Menzies was given a second term of office in 1940 not 1949.

When the people placed Menzies back in office in 1949 they did not think he would be there for the next 16 years. 49.3.72.79 (talk) 07:32, 28 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I can agree that Rudd may not provide the perfect example, however the nomenclature above is still inconsistent with the article itself if nothing else. Menzies current article says in its lead section "Menzies won seven consecutive elections during his second term, eventually retiring as prime minister in January 1966." This usage of term in the article itself is clear that his second term consisted of seven consecutive elections. If we are to change the template to period, consensus would be needed on Menzies page as well for this change, to bring the article and template into alignment. Dauwenkust (talk) 02:29, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Also on further thought, it is worth noting that the office of Prime Minister of Australia does not have a defined term limits. See the Prime Minister of Australia "Prime ministers do not have a set duration or number of terms, but an individual's term generally ends when their political party loses a federal election, or they lose or relinquish the leadership of their party". It is correct that in some jurisdictions terms are defined by individual elections, but this particular office does not, and the usage of term to refer to the period from when they are appointed prime minister by the GG until they resign or are dismissed would appear to be correct. I can see the sidebar for John Howard uses Term of Government (1996-2007) as well. I have added the word Government after term, to match how the other PM's have been done, and to clarify the ambiguity the word Term was causing on it's own Dauwenkust (talk) 02:11, 3 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]