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 Australia’s 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

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 of Representatives

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, Australia’s 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 http://www.gg.gov.au/
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