The Australian Constitution
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- Category: Politics
- Date Submitted: 03/23/2010 03:15 AM
- Pages: 5
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The Constitution
The Purpose of the Australian Constitution:
The Australian Constitution serves many purposes but its most important purpose is to distribute power within the Australian political system. It unifies the Australian colonies as a single nation, and creates laws under which the Australian Commonwealth Government operates.
Main Features of the Australian Constitution:
• Chapter 1 establishes the Commonwealth Parliament as the Legislative Branch of government.
• Chapter 2 deals with the Executive Government, the branch of government which carries out and enforces the laws.
• Chapter 3 provides for the establishment of the Judicature, the branch of government dealing with the courts of law.
• Chapter 4 deals with finance and trade.
• Chapter 5 deals with the States, providing for the continuance of their constitutions, parliamentary powers and laws.
• Chapter 6 deals with the procedures for the establishment of new States and provides for the surrender of territories to the Commonwealth by States.
• Chapter 7 has two sections, one dealing with the establishment of the seat of government, the other providing for the appointment of deputies of the Governor-General.
• Chapter 8 deals with Alteration of the Constitution. It provides that proposals for constitutional alteration be initiated by the Parliament and approved in a referendum by a majority of voters Australia-wide and a majority of voters in a majority of States.
The High Court
The Role of the High Court of Australia:
The High Court is the highest court in the Australian legal system. It was established in 1901 under Section 71 of the Constitution. Its functions are:
• To interpret and apply the law of Australia
• To decide cases of special federal significance
• To hear appeals from Federal, State and Territory courts.
Operation of the High Court:
The High Court of Australia is able to deal with cases which come to it on...
The Purpose of the Australian Constitution:
The Australian Constitution serves many purposes but its most important purpose is to distribute power within the Australian political system. It unifies the Australian colonies as a single nation, and creates laws under which the Australian Commonwealth Government operates.
Main Features of the Australian Constitution:
• Chapter 1 establishes the Commonwealth Parliament as the Legislative Branch of government.
• Chapter 2 deals with the Executive Government, the branch of government which carries out and enforces the laws.
• Chapter 3 provides for the establishment of the Judicature, the branch of government dealing with the courts of law.
• Chapter 4 deals with finance and trade.
• Chapter 5 deals with the States, providing for the continuance of their constitutions, parliamentary powers and laws.
• Chapter 6 deals with the procedures for the establishment of new States and provides for the surrender of territories to the Commonwealth by States.
• Chapter 7 has two sections, one dealing with the establishment of the seat of government, the other providing for the appointment of deputies of the Governor-General.
• Chapter 8 deals with Alteration of the Constitution. It provides that proposals for constitutional alteration be initiated by the Parliament and approved in a referendum by a majority of voters Australia-wide and a majority of voters in a majority of States.
The High Court
The Role of the High Court of Australia:
The High Court is the highest court in the Australian legal system. It was established in 1901 under Section 71 of the Constitution. Its functions are:
• To interpret and apply the law of Australia
• To decide cases of special federal significance
• To hear appeals from Federal, State and Territory courts.
Operation of the High Court:
The High Court of Australia is able to deal with cases which come to it on...