A bid to rid the Senate of the power to take part in electing a prime minister is underway in parliament as some lawmakers insisted such a change would uphold the Upper House's political neutrality.
A draft to amend the constitution to this effect was put before a two-day joint sitting that began on Tuesday.
A group of government and opposition MPs also called for a clause in the charter be fixed to require that a prime ministerial candidate can only be an MP. Currently, a non-MP can be nominated to take on the post.
