The Australian Constitution

1
The Australian Constitution
2
The Australian Constitution

• The set of principles that govern our country
• Created January 1, 1901.
• There are 8 chapters or sections in the
  Australian constitution

3
Eight Chapters or Sections

• Chapter 1 The Parliament
• Chapter 2 The Executive Government
• Chapter 3 The Judicature
• Chapter 4 Finance and Trade
• Chapter 5 The States
• Chapter 6 New States
• Chapter 7 Miscellaneous
• Chapter 8 Alteration of the Constitution

4
Eight Chapters or Sections

• Chapter 1 The Parliament How it is run - power
• Chapter 2 The Executive Government GG
• Chapter 3 The Judicature Judges the courts
• Chapter 4 Finance and Trade Economy
• Chapter 5 The States Their rights and roles
• Chapter 6 New States Creation of new states
• Chapter 7 Miscellaneous Location of capital
• Chapter 8 Alteration of the Constitution Change

5
Creation of the Constitution

• Created January 1, 1901
• Planned and developed during 1890s.
• Drafted in 1897
• Changes made in 1899
• Approved by the colonies, except WA, via
  referendums in 1899
• Sent to the British Parliament for approval
• WA later agreed and was written into the
  constitution
• British Parliament passed the Commonwealth of
  Australia Constitution Act in July 1900
• Queen Victoria signed it in September 1900

6

• Why do you think the new constitution had to be
  approved by the British Parliament in London?

7
Queen Victoria
8

• Why do you think it was Queen Victoria that
  signed the law that approved Australias new
  constitution?

9
The Constitution
10
The Houses of Parliament

• The Australian Parliament has a two-house
  system of government
• That means we have two houses or sections in
  which new laws are planned, debated, made and
  passed
• There is an upper house and lower house

11
The Houses of Parliament

• The upper house is known as the Senate
• The lower house is known as the House of
  Representatives
• This system is known as a bicameral system of
  government
• http//www.aph.gov.au/

12
The Houses of Parliament
13
The House of Representatives

• The House of Representatives has members of
  parliament (MP) that represent the people in
  their electorate
• There was one MP for every 3000 people in
  Australia
• Members of parliament are elected for a term of
  three years

14
The House ofRepresentatives
15
The Senate

• The Senate was set up to make sure that each of
  the states had equal representation in the
  parliament
• This was to make sure that the states with more
  people did not out vote the states with fewer
  people
• There were 36 senators - six from each state
• Half of the 36 senators are elected every three
  years

16
The Senate
17
The Governor General

• The British monarch or ruler appointed a
  governor-general
• The governor-general was the representative of
  the crown (the power of the reigning monarch)

Sir Isaac Isaacs, Australias first Australian
born GG
18
The Governor General

• This is the official document or letters patent
  that was actually signed by Queen Victoria when
  she created the position of Governor General of
  Australia.

19
The Governor General

• Powers of the governor-general included
• Giving royal assent to bills passed by parliament
  and this would make the Acts and laws
• Swearing in the elected prime minister and
  government ministers
• Issuing writs for elections
• Dismissing a government that did not operate
  within the Australian constitution
• http//www.gg.gov.au/