The Australian Constitution
This document sets out how Australia is governed.
The Constitution
This branch makes laws.
The Legislative (parliament)
The name for a proposed law.
Bills
Law made by Parliament.
Statute Law
What branch is made up of the Gov. General, The House of Reps. and The Senate?
The Parliament (Legislative)
What we call when Australia officially became a nation.
Federation
This branch carries out/puts into action laws.
The Executive (government)
The Lower House of Parliament
House of Representatives
Law made by ministers or departments under Parliament's authority.
Delegated Law
What must be agreed to by a majority vote in both houses of Parliament?
For a bill to be passed
The process required to change the Constitution.
Referendum
This branch interprets laws.
The Upper House of Parliament
The Senate
Law based on past cases and is made by judges in a court.
Common Law
This legal duty requires eligible Australians to participate in federal elections.
Compulsory voting
The date the Constitution was put into effect.
1st January 1901
The principle that ensures no branch has too much power.
Checks and Balances
The stage where a bill is debated.
Readings
Traditional Aboriginal rules passed on through stories and spoken word.
Customary Law
The act of acquiring signatures from citizens to present to Parliament in consideration of an issue.
Petition
The group who took ten years to write the Constitution.
The Founding Fathers.
The court that can strike down unconstitutional laws.
The High Court
The final approval needed before a bill becomes law.
Royal Assent
What law over rules the other laws?
Statute Law
These people represent citizens in Parliament and make laws on their behalf.
Members of Parliament (MP's)