What is the Australian constitution?
The Australian Constitution is the legal framework for how Australia is governed.
- It is the set of rules by which Australia is governed.
- Australians voted for the Constitution in a series of referendums.
- The Constitution establishes the composition of the Australian Parliament, describes how Parliament works and what powers it has.
- It also outlines how the federal and state Parliaments share power, and the roles of the executive government and the High Court of Australia .
- It took effect on 1 January 1901.
- In addition to the national Constitution, each Australian state has its own constitution. The Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory have self-government Acts which were passed by the Australian Parliament.
(information from Parliamentary Education Office)
