Definitions
This document is the fundamental framework for Australia's democracy.
What is the Constitution?
This court hears most cases first, including minor crimes.
What is the Magistrates Court
This house of Parliament reviews and scrutinises bills passed by the lower house.
What is the Senate?
This area of law deals with offences against society, even when only one person is harmed.
What is criminal law?
Despite the name, this isn’t a place where electricity is made, but where votes are.
What is the electorate?
This term describes the States and Commonwealth coming together in 1901.
What is Federation?
What is the High Court
This independent body runs federal elections and maintains the electoral roll.
What is the Australian Electoral Commission?
The jury is responsible for this.
What is the verdict?
This storage device doesn’t store plates or glasses, but it does store the nation’s most important decisions.
What is the Cabinet?
This legal principle means that the prime minister gets a speeding ticket - just the same as everyone else.
What is the Rule of Law
This key benefit of the hierarchy allows higher courts to correct mistakes made by lower courts, keeping the system consistent and fair.
What is an appeal?
This principle is shown when ministers must resign if they lose the confidence of Parliament.
What is Responsible Government?
In criminal cases, this rests with the prosecution.
What is the burden of proof?
William by another name, enacted if Parliament approves...
This principle means that everyone in power must 'stay in their lane'
What is the Separation of Powers?
Geographic or power - this concept means a court can actually hear the case.
Jurisdiction
This constitutional principle divides responsibilities between federal and state governments.
What is the Divison of Powers?
What is transparency?
This group’s real workout happens in Parliament, where their job is to hold the government to account — not hold a plank.
Suspicious behaviour, unanswered questions, and “gut feelings” are not enough—because the burden never shifts to the accused to prove anything at all.
What is the Presumption of Innocence
This principle is protected when judges cannot be pressured by Parliament or the executive.
What is judicial independence
A referendum needs a double majority: a national majority of voters and a majority of these.
What are the states?
This canberra suburb holds the High Court and shares it's name with a famous Constitution Convention participant.
Who is Henry Parkes?
Although it sounds like someone who only shows up for “part” of the job, this principle demands the exact opposite: a decision‑maker who refuses to please one side.
What is impartiality?