The Australian Constitution - 1230 Words

â€Å"The Australian Constitution was drafted at a series of constitutional conventions held in the 1890s. It was passed by the British Parliament as part of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 and took effect on 1 January 1901. The Constitution is the legal framework for how Australia is governed and it can only be changed by referendum.† â€Å"A constitution is a set of rules by which a country or state is run.† Some countries have unwritten constitutions which means there is no formal constitution written in one particular document. Their constitutional rules are derived from a number of sources. Britain sources its constitution from a number of important statutes, or laws, as well as principles decided in legal cases and conventions. New Zealand and Israel are two other countries that do not have formal written constitutions. Other countries have formal written constitutions in which the structure of government is defined and the respective powers of the nation and the states are written in one single document. These systems may also include unwritten conventions and constitutional law, which can inform how the constitution is interpreted. Australia, India and the United States are examples of countries with a written constitution. Some constitutions may be amended without any special procedure. The documents that make up the New Zealand Constitution may be amended simply by a majority vote of its Parliament. In other countries a special procedure must be followedShow MoreRelatedEssay The Australian Constitution1395 Words   |  6 PagesThe Australian Constitution The founding fathers of Australia could never have predicted the society that was to come. However, the constitution- the most important document of the land- stands today with only 8 changes to the words after over 100 years of use. The constitution is not without flaws; the rights outlined in the document are far from clear, which hampers the knowledge of the public about their rights. However, this does not mean that the rights are notRead MoreThe Australian Constitution Essay1027 Words   |  5 PagesThe Australian Constitution Will Australia become a republic in the next twenty years? This is a difficult question to speculate on. The main area of law governing this issue is section 128 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (U.K). Other issues in this debate are regarding appointment, termination and the powers to be awarded to the proposed Head of State, and the impact the change will have on the States. Examining the history of Australian Legislative powers, and reasonsRead MoreThe United States And Australian Constitutions1939 Words   |  8 PagesUnited States and Australian constitutions have their share of similarities and differences. While they both have the same aim and goals, they are still two different countries with their own views, constitutions, and types of of government, and of course different approaches. As I go deeper into this I will explain how the constitutions are so similar yet so different. There are several similarities contained within the preambles of the Australian and United States constitutions. Immediately, theyRead MoreThe Australian Constitution And The Separation Of Power2193 Words   |  9 PagesThe Australian Constitution is a rich amalgam of various classical political principles. The concepts of the Rule of Law and the doctrine of the Separation of Powers evident in Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws are both salient examples of political theses that are central to Australian Constitutional Law. The structure of the Constitution itself and decisions of the High Court of Australia unequivocally validate the entrenchment of the doctrine separation of powers in the Commonwealth ConstitutionRead More The Australian Constitution And The Use Of Convention Essay1414 Words   |  6 Pages The Constitution of Australia is a written document, which came into effect when the six colonies federated to form the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It consists of eight chapters and 128 sections and lays down a set of laws or restraints by which the Federal Government must operate. It establishes the composition, procedures, functions, and powers of government, government authorities, such as the Governor General and other essential institutions. The Constitution is the basic framework forRead MoreAnalysis Of The Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People In The Australian Constitution1091 Words   |  5 Pagesconvention held recently and they push for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice in the Australian Parliament and a commission that will hopefully lead to a treaty. More than 250 community leaders came together for the Uluru conference in discussing the future and what seemed to be the biggest topic, changes made in recognizing the Aboriginal and Toress Strait Islander people in the Australian constitution. Per the article, The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have rejected the ideaRead MoreAustralian s Constitut ion : The Founding Political And Legal Document Of Our Nation1556 Words   |  7 PagesAustralian’s Constitution is the founding political and legal document of our nation. It underpins the system of government and the federal laws by which our country is run. The Constitution was written over a century ago and was shaped by the values and beliefs of the time, the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people were not recognised at all. In fact the only mention of the Indigenous people was to exclude them. Most Australian people in society today would be shocked to know that the ConstitutionRead MoreAustralia Based On The Doctrine Of Terra Nullius1416 Words   |  6 Pagesrecognize the existing Indigenous Australians and their ancestral land. Subsequently, the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders were excluded from matters concerning their ancestral land during the drafting of the Australian constitution. Thus, resulting in an Australian constitution that discriminated ag ainst its first peoples, their connection to the land, culture and laws. â€Å"The Indigenous people we subjugated to the laws and customs of England, the Australian constitution ignored claims to land andRead MoreThe Australian Government Essay1381 Words   |  6 PagesWhen you think of the â€Å"land down under† you don’t really think of the kind of government they have. I chose to write about the Australian government because I really don’t hear much about Australia. It currently has a pretty interesting story to tell when it comes to their government. I became a bit interested in Australian politics when I saw a political animated cartoon on the internet that depicted Kevin Rudd, the last Prime Minister, on a news television show and it was quite humorous. I am goingRead MoreMajor Issues in the High Court Review 2006931 Words   |  4 Pages The major issues in the high court review 2006: Australian Federalism – implications of the work choices decision is that it seems unlikely that voters would have supported the characterisation of the corporation power that was adopted by the court. This might be viewed as a problem. This is argued that the majority’s disregard of failed referendums constitutes usurpation of the people’s privilege to change constitution as certain. Callinan J stated that the view of the people was appropriate arbiters