The Constitution
Parliament


Key Terms
Mixed 1
Mixed 2
100

This is the definition for a constitution.

What is a set of rules by which a country or state is run, setting out the rules that specify the powers, responsibilities and roles of the governing bodies within a state or country. 

100

151 representatives make up this house of parliament. 

What is the House of Representatives?

100

The work of governments to pass laws, establish institutions needed to apply and regulate laws and ensure responsibility and respond to community views and expectations. 

What is governance?

100

This is the name for a public yes/no vote held to determine whether or not the Constitution will be changed. 

What is a referendum?

100

The legislature has this power.

Who has the power to make laws?

200

This section of the constitution specifies the areas of the law that the Commonwealth has the sole jurisdiction to make laws and they are characterised as exclusive powers of the Constitution. 

What is Section 51.

200

This is how many members of parliament sit in the Senate.

What is 76?

200

This is a nickname for the High Court

What is the Guardian of the Constitution?

200

This is a specialist court which hears matters of children under 18 years of age. 

What is Children's Court?

200

This is a feature of a just and equitable law.

What is:
1.Fair balance between individual rights and community good,
2. Clarity for citizens and legal professionals
3. Laws should be consistent, stable and prospective
4. Law should apply equally to all
5. Law should be capable of being enforced

300

This section of the Constitution lists the grounds for disqualification on who may become a candidate for election to the Parliament of Australia. 

What is Section 44?

300

The Queen's representative in federal parliament.

Who is the Governor General?
300

The type of democracy that exists when members of the public vote in someone to represent their views in Parliament. 

What is a representative democracy?

300

This is a type of specialist court which delivers culturally appropriate court processes and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, it aims to reduce the frequency and seriousness of subsequent offending. 

What is the Murri Court?

300

This is a difference between passing legislation through Queensland and federal parliament?

In Federal Parliament the steps for passing a bill are repeated and in Federal Parliament it is a Governor General (as opposed to a Governor in Queensland) who gives royal assent. 

400

This section of the Constitution states that when a law of a State is inconsistent with a law of the Commonwealth, the latter shall prevail, and the former shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be invalid. 

What is Section 109?

400

The power to make laws is held by this group.

What is the legislature?

400

The doctrine that all people are equal before the law, and that the government is subject to the law.  This includes the concepts of checks and balances on the use of power, rights of the accused and victims, presumption of innocence and access to justice. 

What is the rule of law?

400

This is a type of specialist court that exists to hear matters of dispute under $25,000. 

What is QCAT?

400

These are the two main roles of the High Court of Australia.

What is the only court which decides disputes arising from the interpretation of the Constitution and the ultimate Court of Appeal for all Australian courts. 

500

This section of the Constitution states that a trial on indictment of any offence against any law of the Commonwealth shall be by jury, and every such trial shall be held in the State where the offence was committed. 

What is Section 80?

500

These are the two arms of government that overlap within the separation of powers.

What is the legislature and the executive? 

500

This is an important document signed in 1215 which attempted to give people a voice and establish rights for individuals. 

What is the Magna Carta?

500

This is the law that was created as a result of the successful Mabo decision. 

What is the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)?

500

This is an implication of a unicameral system of government.

What is a rubber stamp to pass legislation, a lack of debate around laws and little scrutiny?