- Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (The Constitution)
- Contents
- Chapter I—The Parliament
- Part I—General
- Part II—The Senate
- Part III—The House of Representatives
- Part IV—Both Houses of the Parliament
- Part V—Powers of the Parliament
- Chapter II—The Executive Government
- Chapter III—The Judicature
- Chapter IV—Finance and Trade
- Chapter V—The States
- Chapter VI—New States
- Chapter VII—Miscellaneous
- Chapter VIII—Alteration of the Constitution
- Schedule
- Notes to the Commonwealth of AustraliaConstitution Act
- Table of Amendments
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act
This compilation was prepared on 25 July 2003 taking into account alterations up to Act No. 84 of 1977
[Note: This compilation contains all amendments to the Constitution made by the Constitution Alterations specified in Note 1 Additions to the text are shown in bold type Omitted text is shown as ruled through]
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Covering clauses
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................7 2 Act to extend to the Queen’s successors............................................7 3 Proclamation of Commonwealth [see Note 2]...................................7 4 Commencement of Act......................................................................8 5 Operation of the Constitution and laws [see Note 3].........................8 6 Definitions.........................................................................................8 7 Repeal of Federal Council Act [see Note 4]......................................8 8 Application of Colonial Boundaries Act............................................9 9 Constitution [see Note 1]...................................................................9
Chapter I—The Parliament 1
Part I—General 1 1 Legislative power..............................................................................1 2 Governor-General..............................................................................1 3 Salary of Governor-General ..............................................................1 4 Provisions relating to Governor-General...........................................1 5 Sessions of Parliament. Prorogation and dissolution.........................2 6 Yearlysessionof Parliament.............................................................2
Part II—The Senate 3 7 The Senate [see Note 5].....................................................................3 8 Qualification of electors ....................................................................3 9 Method of election of senators [see Note 6]......................................3 10 Application of State laws...................................................................4 11 Failure to choose senators..................................................................4 12 Issue of writs .....................................................................................4 13 Rotation of senators...........................................................................4 14 Further provision for rotation [see Note 7]........................................5 15 Casual vacancies [see Note 8] ...........................................................6 16 Qualifications of senator....................................................................8 17 Election of President..........................................................................8 18 Absence ofPresident.........................................................................8 19 Resignationof senator.......................................................................8 20 Vacancy by absence ..........................................................................9 21 Vacancy to be notified.......................................................................9 22 Quorum..............................................................................................9 23 Voting in the Senate ..........................................................................9
Part III—The House of Representatives 10
24 Constitution of House of Representatives........................................10
25 Provision as to races disqualified from voting.................................10 Part IV—Both Houses of the Parliament 15 41 Right of electors of States................................................................15 42 Oath or affirmation of allegiance.....................................................15 43 Member of one House ineligible for other.......................................15 44 Disqualification...............................................................................15 45 Vacancy on happening of disqualification.......................................16 46 Penalty for sitting when disqualified...............................................16 47 Disputed elections ...........................................................................16 48 Allowanceto members....................................................................17 49 Privileges etc. of Houses .................................................................17 50 Rulesandorders..............................................................................17
Part V—Powers of the Parliament 18 51 Legislative powers of the Parliament [see Notes10 and 11]...........18 52 Exclusive powers of the Parliament.................................................20 53 Powers of the Houses in respect of legislation ................................20 54 Appropriation Bills..........................................................................21 55 Tax Bill............................................................................................21 56 Recommendation of money votes....................................................21 57 Disagreementbetween theHouses..................................................22 58 Royal assent toBills........................................................................22 59 Disallowance by the Queen.............................................................23 60 Signification of Queen’s pleasure on Bills reserved........................23
Chapter II—The Executive Government 24 61 Executive power..............................................................................24 62 Federal Executive Council...............................................................24 63 Provisions referring to Governor-General.......................................24
64 Ministers of State.............................................................................24 65 Number of Ministers........................................................................25 66 Salaries of Ministers........................................................................25 67 Appointment of civil servants..........................................................25 68 Command of naval and military forces............................................25 69 Transfer of certain departments.......................................................25 70 Certain powers of Governors to vest in Governor-General .............26
Chapter III—The Judicature 27 71 Judicial power and Courts ...............................................................27 72 Judges’ appointment, tenure, and remuneration ..............................27 73 Appellate jurisdiction of HighCourt...............................................28 74 Appeal to Queen in Council [see Note 12]......................................29 75 Original jurisdiction of High Court .................................................29 76 Additional original jurisdiction........................................................30 77 Power to define jurisdiction.............................................................30 78 Proceedings against Commonwealth or State..................................30 79 Number of judges............................................................................30 80 Trial by jury.....................................................................................30
Chapter IV—Finance and Trade 32 81 Consolidated Revenue Fund............................................................32 82 Expenditure charged thereon...........................................................32 83 Money to beappropriated by law....................................................32 84 Transfer of officers..........................................................................32 85 Transfer of property of State............................................................33 86 [Customs, excise, and bounties] [see Note 13]................................34 87 [Revenue from customs and excise duties] [see Note 13] ...............34 88 Uniform duties of customs ..............................................................34 89 Payment to States before uniform duties.........................................34 90 Exclusive power over customs, excise, and bounties ......................35 91 Exceptions as to bounties ................................................................35 92 Trade within the Commonwealth to be free ....................................35 93 Payment to States for fiveyearsafter uniform tariffs......................36 94 Distribution of surplus.....................................................................36 (The Constitution)
Contents
26 Representatives in first Parliament ..................................................11 27 Alteration of number of members....................................................11 28 Duration of House of Representatives .............................................11 29 Electoral divisions [see Note 9].......................................................11 30 Qualification of electors ..................................................................12 31 Application of State laws.................................................................12 32 Writs for general election ................................................................12 33 Writs for vacancies..........................................................................12 34 Qualifications of members...............................................................12 35 Election of Speaker..........................................................................13 36 Absence of Speaker .........................................................................13 37 Resignation of member....................................................................13 38 Vacancy by absence ........................................................................13 39 Quorum............................................................................................14 40 Voting in House of Representatives ................................................14