A Constitution for an Australian Republic:

The Constitutional Council Model

by Peter Crayson

Last updated 9 June 2003.


This is a "cleaned" version of this draft constitution, with deleted provisions not shown (in the comprehensive version, they are shown as struck out) and with new provisions shown as normal text (in the comprehensive version, they are shown as bold type).


COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA CONSTITUTION ACT

THE CONSTITUTION

(63 & 64 VICTORIA, CHAPTER 12)


An Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia

[9th July 1900]
Whereas the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established: 

And whereas it is expedient to provide for the admission into the Commonwealth of other Australasian Colonies and possessions of the Queen: 

Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 


1. This Act may be cited as the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act. 

Short title 

2. [Deleted]

3. [Deleted]

4. [Deleted]

6. [Deleted]

7. [Deleted]

8. [Deleted]

9. The Constitution of the Commonwealth shall be as follows: 

Constitution 


THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

This Constitution is divided as follows:- 
Chapter I - The President
Chapter IA - 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 Government
Chapter II - The Executive Government
Chapter IIA - The Constitutional Council
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 I - Oaths and Affirmations
Schedule II - Transitional and Temporary Provisions

Constitution 


Chapter I - The President


1. The President of Australia, herein-after called "The President," shall be the Head of State of Australia.

With the exception of powers or functions vested in the President by this Constitution, any power or function vested by any law, rule, decree or order in the President shall, unless otherwise provided, be exercised or performed only in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council.


The President

The Vice-President of Australia, herein-after called "The Vice-President," shall be the deputy of the President.

The Vice-President
[Three options - OPTIONS A, B and C - are presented below.  Only one of these can be selected to appear in the final document as they are mutually exclusive.
If OPTION A is chosen, the constitution is a direct popular election model where the people's vote elects the President.
If OPTION B is chosen, the constitution is an indirect popular election model where the directly elected Constitutional Council chooses one of its number to be President.
If OPTION C is chosen, the Parliament is empowered to prescribe either option A or option B (but only these options) as it sees fit.]

2. [OPTION A - DIRECT POPULAR ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT] At each Presidential election, following the declaration of the election of the full members of a new Constitutional Council, the votes shall continue to be counted as though the election were conducted in order to fill two vacant places.  The candidate obtaining the highest vote is thereby designated as the next President, and the candidate obtaining the second highest vote is thereby designated as the next Vice-President.

As often as the office of President or Vice-President becomes vacant the Constitutional Council shall, before proceeding to the dispatch of any other business, choose one of its full members to be the President and one of its full members to be the Vice-President.  In so choosing the President and Vice-President, the full members of the Constitutional Council shall vote by secret ballot, and the method of full shall be optional preferential.


Election of the President and the Vice-President

2. [OPTION B - INDIRECT POPULAR ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT] The Constitutional Council shall, before proceeding to the dispatch of any other business, choose one of its full members to be the President and one of its full members to be the Vice-President; and as often as the office of President or Vice-President becomes vacant the Constitutional Council shall again choose one of its full members to be the President or Vice-President as the case may be.  In so choosing the President and Vice-President, the full members of the Constitutional Council shall vote by secret ballot, and the method of voting shall be optional preferential.

Election of the President and the Vice-President

2. [OPTION C - PARLIAMENT DECIDES - OPTION A OR OPTION B] The Parliament of the Commonwealth may make laws prescribing the method of choosing the President and the Vice-President at each Presdential election following the declaration of the election of a new Constitutional Council, provided that only one of the following methods shall be prescribed:
    (i) The new Constitutional Council shall, before proceeding to the dispatch of any other business, choose one of its full members to be the President and one of its full members to be the Vice-President.  In so choosing the President and Vice-President, the full members of the Constitutional Council shall vote by secret ballot, and the method of voting shall be optional preferential.

    (ii) The votes to fill the vacant places of full members of the Constitutional Council shall continue to be counted as though the election were conducted in order to fill two vacant places.  The candidate obtaining the highest vote is thereby designated as the next President, and the candidate obtaining the second highest vote is thereby designated as the next Vice-President.

But in the absence of such provision, sub-section (i) shall apply.

At all other times, as often as the office of President or Vice-President becomes vacant the Constitutional Council shall, before proceeding to the dispatch of any other business, choose one of its full members to be the President and one of its full members to be the Vice-President.  In so choosing the President and Vice-President, the full members of the Constitutional Council shall vote by secret ballot, and the method of voting shall be optional preferential.


Election of the President and the Vice-President

2A. The President or the Vice-President shall cease to hold his office if he ceases to be a member of the Constitutional Council.

But unless a President (or a Vice-President) dies, resigns or is removed from office in accordance with this Constitution, notwithstanding the expiration of his term of service, the President (or the Vice-President) shall continue in office until his successor enters upon the office. 

A person may not serve as President or as Vice-President for more than twelve years and one month cumulatively.


Term of service of President and Vice-President

The President and the Vice-President shall, as soon as practicable upon entering upon the office, make and subscribe an oath or affirmation of office as "President of Australia" and "Vice-President of Australia" respectively in the form set forth in Schedule I to this Constitution.  The oath or affirmation shall be made and subscribed before the Chief Justice of the High Court, or if there is no Chief Justice of the High Court or if the Chief Justice of the High Court is absent from the Commonwealth such officers as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose, or in the absence of such provision, such officer as the Speaker shall, by Proclamation or otherwise, appoint.

President and Vice-President to make oath or affirmation of office

2B. Subject to section 2A, the President (or the Vice-President) shall not be removed from the office of President (or Vice-President) except by a resolution to that effect in both Houses of the Parliament in the same session affirmed by two thirds of the total number of the members of each of those Houses, providing for  such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

Removal of President or Vice-President

The President may resign or stand aside from the office of President by writing addressed to the Vice-President, or if there is no Vice-President or if the Vice-President is absent from the Commonwealth the Chief Justice of the High Court, or if there is no Chief Justice of the High Court or if the Chief Justice of the High Court is absent from the Commonwealth to such officers as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose, or in the absence of such provision, to such officer as the President shall appoint. Such act shall take effect at the time specified therein.

The Vice-President may resign or stand aside from the office of Vice-President by writing addressed to the President, or if there is no President or if the President is absent from the Commonwealth the Vice-President, or if there is no Vice-President or if the Vice-President is absent from the Commonwealth the Chief Justice of the High Court, or if there is no Chief Justice of the High Court or if the Chief Justice of the High Court is absent from the Commonwealth to such officers as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose, or in the absence of such provision, to such officer as the President shall appoint. Such act shall take effect at the time specified therein.


Resignation or standing aside of President or Vice-President

3. If the office of President falls vacant, or if no President has been chosen, or if the President is temporarily incapacitated, one of the persons herein-after specified, in order of precedence, shall thereupon act as President until a new President is chosen or until the President resumes his duties, as the case may be:
    (i) The Vice-President.

    (ii) Such members of the Constitutional Council in such order of precedence as the Constitutional Council may prescribe.

    (iii) The President of the Senate.

    (iv) The Chancellor of the House of Representatives.

    (v) Such officers in such order of precedence as the Speaker may, by Proclamation or otherwise, appoint.

Where there is no such person, or where such person is absent from the Commonwealth or is temporarily incapacitated, the person next in order of precedence shall act as President.

The President shall be deemed to be temporarily incapacitated upon declaration of the same by the President, or upon declaration of the same by the Speaker and the Constitutional Council.  If the President stands aside from office the provisions of this Constitution relating to temporary incapacity of the President shall apply mutatis mutandis.


Acting President

3A. An Acting President shall cease to act as President upon declaration of the same by the President, or when a successor to the President has entered upon the office, or upon resignation or removal from office in like manner as the President.

If within four days of such declaration the Speaker and the Constitutional Council declare that the President is temporarily incapacitated the Parliament shall meet not later than two days thereafter to decide the issue. Not later than twenty-one days after such declaration the Parliament may declare by a resolution to that effect in both Houses of the Parliament in the same session affirmed by two thirds of the total number of the members of each of those Houses that the President is temporarily incapacitated, but if a House rejects or fails to pass the resolution, or in the absence of a resolution, the President shall be deemed not to be temporarily incapacitated.


Term of service of Acting President

A person acting as President shall not exercise a power or function of the President unless he has in respect of that term of service as Acting President made and subscribed, in like manner as the President, an oath or affirmation of office for the office of Acting President in the form set forth in Schedule I to this Constitution.

Acting President to make oath of affirmation of office

The provisions of this Constitution relating to the President, other than section 2, extend and apply to an Acting President.

Provisions relating to President to extend to Acting President


Chapter IA - The Parliament

Part I - General


1. [Deleted]

2. [Deleted]

3. [Deleted]

4. The legislative power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Federal Parliament, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, and which is herein-after called "The Parliament," or "The Parliament of the Commonwealth."

Legislative power

5.  The Speaker (subject to the advice of the Federal Executive Council) may, by Proclamation or otherwise, appoint times for holding the sessions of the Parliament (including joint sittings of the members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives), and may also from time to time in like manner prorogue the Parliament.

Subject to this Constitution, rhe Speaker may, by Proclamation or otherwise, dissolve the House of Representatives.


Sessions of Parliament, prorogation and dissolution

After any general election the Parliament shall be summoned to meet not later than thirty days after the day appointed for the return of the writs.

Summoning Parliament

6. There shall be a session of the Parliament once at least in every year, so that twelve months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the Parliament in one session and its first sitting in the next session. 

Yearly session of Parliament 


Part II - The Senate


7. The Senate shall be composed of senators for each State directly chosen by the people of the State, voting, until the Parliament otherwise provides, as one electorate. 

Unless the Parliament otherwise provides there shall be six senators for each Original State. The Parliament may make laws increasing or diminishing the number of senators for each State, but so that equal representation of the several Original States shall be maintained and that no Original State shall have less than six senators. 

The senators shall be chosen for a term of six years, and the names of the senators chosen for each State shall be certified by the Governor to the President.


The Senate 

8. The qualification of electors of senators shall be in each State that which is prescribed by this Constitution, or by the Parliament, as the qualification for electors of members of the House of Representatives; but in the choosing of senators each elector shall vote only once. 

Qualification of electors 

9. The Parliament of the Commonwealth may make laws prescribing the method of choosing senators, but so that the method shall be uniform for all the States. Subject to any such law, the Parliament of each State may make laws prescribing the method of choosing the senators for that State. 

Method of election of senators 

The Parliament of a State may make laws for determining the times and places for elections of senators for the State. 

Times and places 

10. [Deleted.]

11. The Senate may proceed to the despatch of business, notwithstanding the failure of any State to provide for its representation in the Senate. 

Failure to choose senators 

12. The Governor of any State may cause writs to be issued for elections of senators for the State. In case of the dissolution of the Senate the writs shall be issued within ten days from the proclamation of such dissolution. 

Issue of writs 

13. As soon as may be after each first meeting of the Senate following a dissolution thereof, the Senate shall divide the senators chosen for each State into two classes, as nearly equal in number as practicable; and the places of the senators of the first class shall become vacant at the expiration of three years, and the places of those of the second class at the expiration of six years, from the beginning of their term of service; and afterwards the places of senators shall become vacant at the expiration of six years from the beginning of their term of service. 

The election to fill vacant places shall be made within one year before the places are to become vacant. 

For the purposes of this section the term of service of a senator shall be taken to begin on the first day of July following the day of his election, except in the case of the election next after any dissolution of the Senate, when it shall be taken to begin on the first day of July preceding the day of his election. 


Rotation of senators

14. Whenever the number of senators for a State is increased or diminished, the Parliament of the Commonwealth may make such provision for the vacating of the places of senators for the State as it deems necessary to maintain regularity in the rotation. 

Further provision for rotation 

15. If the place of a senator becomes vacant before the expiration of his term of service, the Houses of Parliament of the State for which he was chosen, sitting and voting together, or, if there is only one House of that Parliament, that House, shall choose a person to hold the place until the expiration of the term. But if the Parliament of the State is not in session when the vacancy is notified, the Governor of the State, with the advice of the Executive Council thereof, may appoint a person to hold the place until the expiration of fourteen days from the beginning of the next session of the Parliament of the State or the expiration of the term, whichever first happens. 

Where a vacancy has at any time occurred in the place of a senator chosen by the people of a State and, at the time when he was so chosen, he was publicly recognised by a particular political party as being an endorsed candidate of that party and publicly represented himself to be such a candidate, a person chosen or appointed under this section in consequence of that vacancy, shall, unless there is no member of that party available to be chosen or appointed, be a member of that party. 

Where - 

    (a) in accordance with the last preceding paragraph, a member of particular political party is chosen or appointed to hold the place of a senator whose place has become vacant; and 

    (b) before taking his seat he ceases to be a member of that party (otherwise than by reason of the party having ceased to exist),

he shall be deemed not to have been so chosen or appointed and the vacancy shall be again notified in accordance with 
section 21 of this Constitution. 

The name of any senator chosen or appointed under this section shall be certified by the Governor of the State to the President.


Casual vacancies 

16. The qualifications of a senator shall be the same as those of a member of the House of Representatives. 

Qualifications of senator 

17. The Senate shall, before proceeding to the despatch of any other business, choose a senator to be the President of the Senate; and as often as the President of the Senate becomes vacant the Senate shall again choose a senator to be the President of the Senate. 

The President of the Senate shall cease to hold his office if he ceases to be a senator. He may be removed from office by a vote of the Senate, or he may resign his office or his seat by writing to the President.


Election of President of the Senate

18. Before or during any absence of the President of the Senate, the Senate may choose a senator to perform his duties in his absence. 

Absence of President of the Senate

19. A senator may, by writing addressed to the President of the Senate, or to the President if there is no President of the Senate or if the President of the Senate is absent from the Commonwealth, resign his place, which thereupon shall become vacant. 

Resignation of senator 

20. The place of a senator shall become vacant if for two consecutive months of any session of the Parliament he, without the permission of the Senate, fails to attend the Senate. 

Vacancy by absence 

21. Whenever a vacancy happens in the Senate, the President of the Senate, or if there is no President of the Senate or if the President of the Senate is absent from the Commonwealth the President shall notify the same to the Governor of the State in the representation of which the vacancy has happened. 

Vacancy to be notified 

22. Unless the Parliament otherwise provides, the presence of at least one-third of the whole number of the senators shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the Senate for the exercise of its powers. 

Quorum 

23. Questions arising in the Senate shall be determined by a majority of votes, and each senator shall have one vote. The President of the Senate shall in all cases be entitled to vote; and when the votes are equal the question shall pass in the negative. 

Voting in the Senate 


Part III - The House of Representatives


24. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members directly chosen by the people of the Commonwealth, and the number of such members shall be, as nearly as practicable, twice the number of senators. 

The number of members chosen in the several States shall be in proportion to the respective number of their people, and shall, until the Parliament otherwise provides, be determined, wherever necessary, in the following manner:- 

    (i) A quota shall be ascertained by dividing the number of the people of the Commonwealth, as shown by the latest statistics of the Commonwealth, by twice the number of senators: 

    (ii) The number of members to be chosen in each State shall be determined by dividing the number of the people of the State, as shown by the latest statistics of the Commonwealth, by the quota; and if on such division there is a remainder greater than one-half of the quota, one more member shall be chosen in the State. 

But notwithstanding anything in this section, five members at least shall be chosen in each Original State. 

Composition of House of Representatives 

25. [Deleted]

26. [Deleted]

27. Subject to this Constitution, the Parliament may make laws for increasing or diminishing the number of members of the House of Representatives. 

Alteration of number of members 

28. [Bold green text in this section should be included if reserve powers are subject to veto by the Constitutional Council.  Sections 28, 57, 63, 63A, 63B and 126D should be read together.] Every House of Representatives shall continue for three years from the first meeting of the House, and no longer, but shall be sooner dissolved by the Speaker when so advised by the Prime Minister.

Duration of House of Representatives 

However, the Speaker may, according to his discretion, but subject to the review of the Constitutional Council, refuse to dissolve the House of Representatives on the advice of the Prime Minister when a Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the House of Representatives or has not yet obtained it.

Refusal to dissolve the House of Representatives

29. The Parliament may make laws for determining the divisions in each State for which members of the House of Representatives may be chosen, and the number of members to be chosen for each division. A division shall not be formed out of parts of different States. 

In the absence of other provisions, each State shall be one electorate. 


Electoral divisions 

30. The Parliament may make laws relating to the qualification of electors of members of the House of Representatives, but in the absence of such provision, the qualification of electors of members of the House of Representatives shall be in each State that which is prescribed by the law of the State as the qualification of electors of the more numerous House of Parliament of the State.

In the choosing of members of the House of Representatives each elector shall vote only once. 


Qualification of electors

31. The Parliament may make laws relating to elections of members of the House of Representatives. 

Method of election of members

32. The Speaker may cause writs to be issued for general elections of members of the House of Representatives.  Writs shall be issued within ten days from the expiry of a House of Representatives or from the proclamation of a dissolution thereof.

Writs for general election

33. Whenever a vacancy happens in the House of Representatives, the Speaker shall issue his writ for the election of a new member, or if there is no Speaker or if he is absent from the Commonwealth the President may issue the writ.

Writs for vacancies 

34. The qualifications of a member of the House of Representatives shall be as follows:- 
    (i) He must be of the full age of eighteen years, and must be an elector entitled to vote at the election of members of the House of Representatives, or a person qualified to become such elector; 

    (ii) He must be an Australian citizen; 

    (iii) Such other reasonable limits as the Parliament may prescribe as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.


Qualifications of members

35. The Speaker shall preside over the House of Representatives, and shall have and may exercise such powers and functions as are assigned to him by this Constitution.

The Speaker 

35A. Nominations of candidates for the office of Speaker may be made, jointly or severally, by the incumbent or any past Speaker, by the incumbent or any past Prime Minister, by the Leader of the Opposition, or by any five members of the Commonwealth Parliament.  Any number of candidates may be nominated.

Nominations shall close twenty-eight days prior to the expiration of the term of service of the incumbent Speaker, or twenty-eight days following an announcement of the intended resignation of the Speaker or a vacancy occurring in the office of Speaker, whichever first happens.  If, at the close of nominations, no candidates have been nominated, the Constitutional Council may nominate such candidates as it thinks fit.


Nomination of the Speaker

35B. As soon as practicable following the fourteenth day after the close of nominations for the office of Speaker, the Constitutional Council shall convene to choose one candidate from amongst those nominated to be designated as the next Speaker.

When more than two candidates have been nominated for the office of Speaker, the Constitutional Council shall, by secret ballot, assign between one and five votes to each candidate, and the total of all votes for each candidate shall be calculated.  The name of the candidate (or in the case of equality of votes, candidates) having the smallest number of votes shall be excluded from subsequent ballots, and a fresh ballot shall take place; but if by reason of equality of votes less than two candidates would remain on the ballot following such exclusion, another ballot shall be taken.  This shall be done as often as necessary, until two candidates remain on the ballot.

When only two candidates remain on the ballot, or when only two candidates have been nominated for the office of Speaker, the Constitutional Council shall, by secret ballot, elect one candidate, and the candidate so elected is thereby designated as the next Speaker; but if by reason of equality of votes the ballot is rendered inconclusive, a second ballot shall be taken.  If by reason of equality of votes such second ballot is also rendered inconclusive, the President shall exercise his casting vote.

When only one candidate remains on the ballot, or when only one candidate has been nominated for the office of Speaker, that candidate is thereby designated as the next Speaker.


Designation of the Speaker

35C. Subject to this Constitution, the Parliament may make laws with respect to the conduct of the nomination, designation and induction of the Speaker, including the resolution of disputes in regard thereto. But any question respecting the qualification of the Speaker, or respecting a vacancy in the office of Speaker, and any question of a disputed designation of a Speaker, shall be determined by the High Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns.

Laws relating to nomination, designation and induction of Speaker

The qualifications of the Speaker shall be the same as those of a member of the House of Representatives from time to time, except that a person who is or becomes a full member of the Constitutional Council, or a member of the Commonwealth Parliament, or a State Parliament, or a Territory legislature, or who is or becomes a member of a political party, shall be incapable of being inducted as Speaker, or of holding the office of Speaker.

Qualifications of Speaker

The actions of a person otherwise duly inducted as Speaker under this section are not invalidated only because the person was not qualified to be nominated as a candidate for the office of Speaker, or of being designated as Speaker, or of holding the office of Speaker.

Actions of Speaker not invalidated

35D. The Speaker-designate shall enter upon the office of Speaker upon the expiration of the term of service of the incumbent Speaker. But if, when a person is designated as Speaker, the office of Speaker is vacant or the term of service of the outgoing Speaker has expired, the Speaker-designate shall enter upon the office of Speaker on the day after making and subscribing the oath or affirmation of office.

The Speaker shall continue in office until the expiration of five years from the date on which he enters upon that office, unless before the expiration of that term of service he dies, resigns or is removed from office in accordance with this Constitution. 

But unless a Speaker dies, resigns or is removed from office in accordance with this Constitution, notwithstanding the expiration of his term of service, the Speaker shall continue in office until his successor enters upon the office. 

A person may serve more than one term of service as Speaker.


Term of service of Speaker

The Speaker-designate shall not enter upon the office of Speaker unless he has made and subscribed an oath or affirmation of office in the form set forth in Schedule 1 to this Constitution.  The oath or affirmation shall be made and subscribed before the President, or if there is no President or if the President is absent from the Commonwealth the Vice-President, or if there is no Vice-President or if the Vice-President is absent from the Commonwealth the Chief Justice of the High Court, or if there is no Chief Justice of the High Court or if the Chief Justice of the High Court is absent from the Commonwealth such officers as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose, or in the absence of such provision, such officer as the incumbent Speaker shall, by Proclamation or otherwise, appoint.

Speaker to make oath or affirmation of office

The Speaker shall receive such remuneration, payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as the Parliament fixes.

The remuneration of a Speaker shall not be altered during his continuance in office; and no such person shall be entitled to receive any remuneration from the Commonwealth in respect of any other office during his continuance in office.


Remuneration of Speaker

35E. The Speaker shall not be removed except by the Constitutional Council, on an address from the House of Representatives, praying for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.  Within four days of such address the Constitutional Council may remove the Speaker from office, but following the fourth day thereafter the address shall be of no effect.

At any sitting of the House of Representatives, while any motion for an address praying for the removal of the Speaker is under consideration, the Speaker shall not preside, though he may otherwise take part in the proceedings of the House.  Upon such address having been made, the Speaker shall be deemed to be temporarily incapacitated until the Constitutional Council has voted to decide the issue, or until the expiration of four days from the said address, whichever first happens.  During such period of temporary incapacity, the Acting Speaker shall preside over the House of Representatives, and the President shall, with the consent of the Constitutional Council, exercise all other powers of the Speaker.


Removal of Speaker

The Speaker may resign or stand aside from his office by writing addressed to the President, or if there is no President or if the President is absent from the Commonwealth the Vice-President, or if there is no Vice-President or if the Vice-President is absent from the Commonwealth the Chief Justice of the High Court, or if there is no Chief Justice of the High Court or if the Chief Justice of the High Court is absent from the Commonwealth to such officers as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose, or in the absence of such provision, to such officer as the President shall appoint. Such act shall take effect at the time specified therein.

Resignation or standing aside of Speaker

35F. The Speaker may, with the consent of the Constitutional Council, appoint any person, or any persons jointly or severally, to be his deputy or deputies, and in that capacity to exercise during the pleasure of the Speaker (including while the Speaker is absent from Australia) such powers and functions of the Speaker as the Speaker thinks fit to assign to such deputy or deputies subject to any limitations expressed or directions given by him; but the appointment of such deputy or deputies shall not affect the exercise by the Speaker himself (including while the Speaker is absent from Australia) of any power or function of the Speaker.

Deputies of the Speaker

Subject to this Constitution, a deputy of the Speaker shall not exercise a power or function of the Speaker on any occasion:
    (i) except in accordance with the instrument of appointment; 

    (ii) except at the request of the Speaker that he exercise that power or function on that occasion; 

    (iii) unless since being appointed a deputy of the Speaker he has made and subscribed, in like manner as the Speaker, an oath or affirmation of office for the office of deputy of the Speaker in the form set forth in Schedule I to this Constitution.


Limitations on powers of deputies of the Speaker. Deputies of the Speaker to make oath or affirmation of allegiance and oath or affirmation of office

35G. If the office of Speaker falls vacant, or if no Speaker has been chosen, or if the Speaker is temporarily incapacitated, one of the following persons, in order of precedence, shall thereupon act as Speaker:
    (i) Such deputies of the Speaker in such order of precedence as the Speaker may prescribe for the purpose.

    (ii) Such officers in such order of precedence as the Constitutional Council may prescribe for the purpose.

    (iii) The Chancellor of the House of Representatives.

    (iv) Such officers in such order of precedence as the Speaker may, by Proclamation or otherwise, appoint for the purpose.

    (v) Such officers in such order of precedence as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose.

Where there is no such person, or where such person is absent from the Commonwealth or has been removed from the office of Acting Speaker, the person next in order of precedence shall act as Speaker.

The Speaker shall be deemed to be temporarily incapacitated upon declaration of the same by the Speaker, or upon declaration of the same by the Constitutional Council.  If the Speaker stands aside from office the provisions of this Constitution relating to temporary incapacity of the Speaker shall apply mutatis mutandis.


Acting Speaker

35H. An Acting Speaker shall cease to act as Speaker upon declaration of the same by the Speaker, or when a successor to the Speaker has entered upon the office, or upon resignation or removal from office in like manner as the Speaker.

If within four days of such declaration the Constitutional Council declares that the Speaker is temporarily incapacitated the House of Representatives shall meet not later than two days thereafter to decide the issue.  Not later than twenty-one days after such declaration the House of Representatives may declare by a resolution to that effect affirmed by two thirds of the total number of the members that the Speaker is temporarily incapacitated, but if the House of Representatives rejects or fails to pass the resolution, or in the absence of a resolution, the Speaker shall be deemed not to be temporarily incapacitated.


Term of service of Acting Speaker

A person acting as Speaker shall not exercise a power or function of the Speaker unless he has in respect of that term of service as Acting Speaker made and subscribed, in like manner as the Speaker, an oath or affirmation of office for the office of Acting Speaker in the form set forth in Schedule I to this Constitution.

Acting Speaker to make oath of affirmation of office

The provisions of this Constitution relating to the Speaker, other than sections 35A and 35B, extend and apply to an Acting Speaker.

Provisions relating to Speaker to extend to Acting Speaker

36. Before or during any absence of the Speaker or a deputy of the Speaker, the House may choose a person to be the Chancellor of the House of Representatives to preside over the House in his absence. Before or during any absence of the Chancellor, the House may choose a person to perform his duties in his absence.

The Chancellor may be removed from office by the Speaker, or by a vote of the House, or he may resign his office or his seat by writing addressed to the Speaker.


Chancellor of the House of Representatives

37. A member may by writing addressed to the Speaker, or to the President if there is no Speaker or if the Speaker is absent from the Commonwealth, resign his place, which thereupon shall become vacant.

Resignation of member

38. The place of a member shall become vacant if for two consecutive months of any session of the Parliament he, without the permission of the House, fails to attend the House.

Vacancy by absence 

39. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the presence of at least one-third of the whole number of the members of the House of Representatives shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the House for the exercise of its powers.

Quorum 

40. Questions arising in the House of Representatives shall be determined by a majority of votes in the presence of the Speaker or a deputy of the Speaker, and by a majority of votes other than that of the Chancellor in the absence of the Speaker or a deputy of the Speaker. When presiding, the Chancellor shall not vote unless the numbers are equal, and then he shall have a casting vote. The Speaker shall not be entitled to vote in questions arising in the House.

Voting in the House of Representatives 


Part IV - Both Houses of the Parliament


41. No person of the full age of eighteen years who has or acquires a right to vote at elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of a State shall, while the right continues, be prevented by any law of the Commonwealth from voting at elections for either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. 

Right of electors of States 

42. Every senator and every member of the House of Representatives shall before taking his seat make and subscribe before the President or some person authorised by him, an oath or affirmation of allegiance in the form set forth in Schedule I to this Constitution. 

Oath or affirmation of allegiance 

43. A member of either House of the Parliament shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a member of the other House. 

Member of one House ineligible for other 

44. Any person who - 
    (i) Is under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or is subject or a citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power: or 

    (ii) Is attainted of treason, or has been convicted and is under sentence, or subject to be sentenced, for any offence punishable under the law of the Commonwealth or of a State by imprisonment for one year or longer: or 

    (iii) Is an undischarged bankrupt or insolvent: or 

    (iv) Holds any office of profit under the Crown, or any pension payable during the pleasure of the Crown out of any of the revenues of the Commonwealth: or 

    (v) Has any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any agreement with the Public Service of the Commonwealth otherwise than as a member and in common with the other members of an incorporated company consisting of more than twenty-five persons: 

shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a senator or a member of the House of Representatives. 

But sub-section (iv) does not apply to the office of any of the Ministers of State for the Commonwealth, or of any of the Ministers for a State, or to the receipt of pay as an officer or member of the military forces of the Commonwealth by any person whose services are not wholly employed by the Commonwealth. 


Disqualification 

45. If a senator or member of the House of Representatives -
    (i) Becomes subject to any of the disabilities mentioned in the last preceding section: or 

    (ii) Takes the benefit, whether by assignment, composition, or otherwise, of any law relating to bankrupt or insolvent debtors: or 

    (iii) Directly or indirectly takes or agrees to take any fee or honorarium for services rendered to the Commonwealth, or for services rendered in the Parliament to any person or State: 

his place shall thereupon become vacant. 

Vacancy on happening of disqualification 

46. Unless the Parliament otherwise provides, any person declared by this Constitution to be incapable of sitting as a senator or as a member of the House of Representatives shall, for every day on which he so sits, be liable to pay the sum of two hundred dollars to any person who sues for it in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Penalty for sitting when disqualified

47. Unless the Parliament otherwise provides, any question respecting the qualification of a senator or of a member of the House of Representatives, or respecting a vacancy in either House of the Parliament, and any question of a disputed election to either House, shall be determined by the House in which the question arises. 

Disputed elections 

48. Unless the Parliament otherwise provides, each senator and each member of the House of Representatives shall receive an allowance of eight hundred dollars a year, to be reckoned from the day on which he takes his seat. 

Allowance to members

49. The powers, privileges, and immunities of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, and of the members and the committees of each House, shall be such as are declared by the Parliament. 

Privileges etc. of Houses 

50. Each House of the Parliament may make rules and orders with respect to - 
    (i) The mode in which its powers, privileges, and immunities may be exercised and upheld: 

    (ii) The order and conduct of its business and proceedings either separately or jointly with the other House. 


Rules and orders 


Part V - Powers of the Parliament


51. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to: - 
    (i) Trade and commerce with other countries, and among the States: 

    (ii) Taxation; but so as not to discriminate between States or parts of States: 

    (iii) Bounties on the production or export of goods, but so that such bounties shall be uniform throughout the Commonwealth: 

    (iv) Borrowing money on the public credit of the Commonwealth: 

    (v) Postal, telegraphic, telephonic, and other like services: 

    (vi) The military defence of the Commonwealth and of the several States, and the control of the forces to execute and maintain the laws of the Commonwealth: 

    (vii) Lighthouses, lightships, beacons and buoys: 

    (viii) Astronomical and meteorological observations: 

    (ix) Quarantine: 

    (x) Fisheries in Australian waters beyond territorial limits: 

    (xi) Census and statistics: 

    (xii) Currency, coinage, and legal tender:

    (xiii) Banking, other than State banking; also State banking extending beyond the limits of the State concerned, the incorporation of banks, and the issue of paper money: 

    (xiv) Insurance, other than State insurance; also State insurance extending beyond the limits of the State concerned: 

    (xv) Weights and measures: 

    (xvi) Bills of exchange and promissory notes:

    (xvii) Bankruptcy and insolvency: 

    (xviii) Copyrights, patents of inventions and designs, and trade marks:

    (xix) Naturalisation and aliens: 

    (xx) Foreign corporations, and trading or financial corporations formed within the limits of the Commonwealth: 

    (xxi) Marriage: 

    (xxii) Divorce and matrimonial causes; and in relation thereto, parental rights, and the custody and guardianship of infants: 

    (xxiii) Invalid and old-age pensions: 

    (xxiiiA) The provision of maternity allowances, widows' pensions, child endowment, unemployment, pharmaceutical, sickness and hospital benefits, medical and dental services (but not so as to authorise any form of civil conscription), benefits to students and family allowances:

    (xxiv) The service and execution throughout the Commonwealth of the civil and criminal process and the judgments of the courts of the States: 

    (xxv) The recognition throughout the Commonwealth of the laws, the public Acts and records, and the judicial proceedings of the States: 

    (xxvi) The people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws: 

    (xxvii) Immigration and emigration: 

    (xxix) The influx of criminals: 

    (xxx) The relations of the Commonwealth with the islands of the Pacific: 

    (xxxi) The acquisition of property on just terms from any State or person for any purpose in respect of which the Parliament has power to make laws: 

    (xxxii) The control of railways with respect to transport for the naval and military purposes of the Commonwealth: 

    (xxxiii) The acquisition, with the consent of a State, of any railways of the State on terms arranged between the Commonwealth and the State: 

    (xxxiv) Railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State: 

    (xxxv) Conciliation and arbitration for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes extending beyond the limits of any one State: 

    (xxxvi) Matters in respect of which this Constitution makes provision until or unless the Parliament otherwise provides: 

    (xxxvii) Matters referred to the Parliament of the Commonwealth by the Parliaments of any State or States, but so that the law shall extend only to States by whose Parliaments the matter is referred, or which afterwards adopt the law: 

    (xxxviii) The exercise within the Commonwealth, at the request or with the concurrence of the Parliaments of all States directly concerned, of any power not otherwise vested by this Constitution in the Commonwealth, except such powers the exercise of which is prohibited by this Constitution:

    (xxxix) Matters incidental to the execution of any power vested by this Constitution in the Parliament or in either House thereof, or in any department or officer of the Commonwealth:

    (xl) The execution of any power vested by this Constitution in any Principal Officer of the Commonwealth, or in the Federal Judicature, or in the Government of the Commonwealth, or in any authority or person exercising the executive power of the Commonwealth.


Legislative powers of the Parliament 

52. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have exclusive power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to - 
    (i) The seat of government of the Commonwealth, and all places acquired by the Commonwealth for public purposes: 

    (ii) Matters relating to any officer, organ or authority established by or under this Constitution, or to any department of the public service, including those the control of which are transferred to the Executive Government of the Commonwealth: 

    (iii) Other matters declared by this Constitution to be within the exclusive power of the Parliament. 


Exclusive powers of the Parliament 

52A. The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

Prohibition to legislate in respect of religion

53. Proposed laws appropriating revenue or moneys, or imposing taxation, shall not originate in the Senate. But a proposed law shall not be taken to appropriate revenue or moneys, or to impose taxation, by reason only of its containing provision for the imposition or appropriation of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand for payment or appropriation of fees for licences, or fees for services under the proposed law.

The Senate may not amend proposed laws imposing taxation, or proposed laws appropriating revenue or moneys for the ordinary annual services of the Government. 

The Senate may not amend any proposed law so as to increase any proposed charge or burden on the people.

The Senate may at any stage return to the House of Representatives any proposed law which the Senate may not amend, requesting, by message, the omission or amendment of any items or provisions therein. And the House of Representatives may, if it thinks fit, make any of such omissions or amendments, with or without modifications. 

Except as provided in this section, the Senate shall have equal power with the House of Representatives in respect of all proposed laws.


Powers of the Houses in respect of legislation 

54. The proposed law which appropriates revenue or moneys for the ordinary annual services of the Government shall deal only with such appropriation. 

Appropriation Bills 

55. Laws imposing taxation shall deal only with the imposition of taxation, and any provision therein dealing with any other matter shall be of no effect. 

Laws imposing taxation, except laws imposing duties of customs or of excise, shall deal with one subject of taxation only; but laws imposing duties of customs shall deal with duties of customs only, and laws imposing duties of excise shall deal with duties of excise only. 


Tax Bill 

56. A vote, resolution, or proposed law for the appropriation of revenue or moneys shall not be passed unless the purpose of the appropriation has in the same session been recommended by message of the Speaker (subject to the advice of the Federal Executive Council) to the House in which the proposal originated.

Recommendation of money votes 

57. [Bold green text in this section should be included if reserve powers are subject to veto by the Constitutional Council.  Sections 28, 57, 63, 63A, 63B and 126D should be read together.] If the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Speaker, acting in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously. But such dissolution shall not take place within six months before the date of the expiry of the House of Representatives by effluxion of time.

Disagreement between the Houses 

However, the Speaker may, according to his discretion, but subject to the review of the Constitutional Council, refuse to dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously.

Refusal to dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously

If after such dissolution the House of Representatives again passes the proposed law, with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Speaker (subject to the advice of the Federal Executive Council) may convene a joint sitting of the members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives.

The members present at the joint sitting may deliberate and shall vote together upon the proposed law as last proposed by the House of Representatives, and upon amendments, if any, which have been made therein by one House and not agreed to by the other, and any such amendments which are affirmed by an absolute majority of the total number of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives shall be taken to have been carried, and if the proposed law, with the amendments, if any, so carried is affirmed by an absolute majority of the total number of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, it shall be taken to have been duly passed by both Houses of the Parliament, and shall be presented to the President for assent.


Joint sitting

58. When a proposed law passed by both Houses of the Parliament is presented to the President for assent, he shall declare, according to his discretion, but subject to this Constitution, that he assents to it or that he withholds assent.

Assent to Bills

The President may, with the consent of the Constitutional Council, return to the House in which it originated any proposed law so presented to him, and may transmit therewith any amendments which he may recommend, and the Houses may deal with the recommendation.

If after having been thus returned both Houses of the Parliament, in the same or the next session, again pass the proposed law without any amendments the proposed law shall again be presented to the President for assent, and he shall declare that he assents to it.


Recommendations by President

59. If any proposed law has not been assented to nor been returned within ten days after having been presented to the President for assent, the same shall be deemed to have been assented to, unless the House in which it originated by its adjournment has prevented its return, in which case the House shall deal with the proposed law when it next sits.

Bills not assented to


Chapter II - The Executive Government


60. The Federal Executive Council shall administer the Government of the Commonwealth, and shall have and may exercise in the Commonwealth such powers and functions as are assigned to it by this Constitution and by law.

Federal Executive Council

61. The executive power of the Commonwealth is vested in and is exercisable by the Federal Executive Council, and extends to the execution and maintenance of this Constitution, and of the laws of the Commonwealth.

The powers, functions, rights, privileges, immunities and prerogatives of the Crown in right of the Commonwealth shall be enjoyed by the Federal Executive Council, or by the Commonwealth, as the case may be, subject to this Constitution and to such regulations as the Parliament prescribes.


Executive Power of the Commonwealth

62. The members of the Federal Executive Council shall be the Ministers of State for the time being, who shall each make the oath or affirmation prescribed by the Parliament.

The Prime Minister or a Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council so authorised by him may convene meetings of the Federal Executive Council.

Unless the Parliament otherwise provides, the presence of at least three members of the Federal Executive Council, including either the Prime Minister or the Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council, shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.


Members of the Federal Executive Council

63. [Bold green text in this section should be included if reserve powers are subject to veto by the Constitutional Council.  Sections 28, 57, 63, 63A, 63B and 126D should be read together.] A Prime Minister shall be the chief Minister of State and the Head of Government of the Commonwealth, and shall be the President of the Federal Executive Council.

The Prime Minister

Not later than ten days after the day appointed for the return of the writs after any general election, or not later than ten days after the office of Prime Minister becomes vacant, the Speaker shall, according to his discretion, but subject to the review of the Constitutional Council, appoint as Prime Minister that person whom he believes would be most likely to command the confidence of the House of Representatives.

Speaker to appoint Prime Minister

But if the House of Representatives declares that another person commands the confidence of the House of Representatives, the Speaker shall appoint that person to be Prime Minister.

Prime Minister to command confidence of the House of Representatives

The Prime Minister shall continue in office, subject to this Constitution, until he dies, resigns, or is removed from office by the Speaker in accordance with this Constitution.

Term of service of Prime Minister

The person who leads the party or coalition of parties which occupies the greatest number of seats in the House of Representatives, excluding the party or coalition of parties which the Prime Minister leads or of which he is a member, shall be known as the Leader of the Opposition.

The Leader of the Opposition

63A. [Bold green text in this section should be included if reserve powers are subject to veto by the Constitutional Council.  Sections 28, 57, 63, 63A, 63B and 126D should be read together.] The Speaker may, according to his discretion, but subject to the review of the Constitutional Council, remove from office a Prime Minister who has lost the confidence of the House of Representatives and has failed to resign, unless the Prime Minister has advised the Speaker to dissolve the House of Representatives, and the Speaker has accepted that advice.

Removal of Prime Minister on loss of confidence

63B. [Bold green text in this section should be included if reserve powers are subject to veto by the Constitutional Council.  Sections 28, 57, 63, 63A, 63B and 126D should be read together.] If the Speaker believes that the Executive Government of the Commonwealth is breaching this Constitution, or is not complying with an order of a court, or is persisting in other unlawful behaviour, the Speaker may, according to his discretion, but subject to the review of the Constitutional Council, dissolve the House of Representatives or dissolve the House of Representatives and remove the Prime Minister from office. In the event of the Prime Minister being so removed from office, the Speaker may, according to his discretion, appoint as Prime Minister such other person whom the Speaker believes will take all reasonable steps to end the contravention and who will maintain the administration of the Commonwealth pending the outcome of the general election following such dissolution.

Removal of Prime Minister if Executive Government behaving unlawfully

64. The Prime Minister shall appoint and remove from office Ministers of State, and may appoint such Ministers of State to administer such departments of State of the Commonwealth as the Federal Executive Council may establish, or to be a Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council.

Number of  Ministers of State

No Minister of State shall hold office for a longer period than three months unless he is or becomes a senator or a member of the House of Representatives.

Ministers to sit in Parliament

65. The Ministers of State shall hold such offices as the Parliament prescribes, or, in the absence of provision, as the Prime Minister directs.

Offices held by Ministers of State

66. The Ministers of State shall receive as remuneration such annual sum, payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as the Parliament fixes.

Remuneration of Ministers

67. Unless the Parliament otherwise provides, the appointment and removal of all other officers of the Executive Government of the Commonwealth shall be vested in the Federal Executive Council, unless the appointment is delegated by the Federal Executive Council or by a law of the Commonwealth to some other authority. 

Appointment of public servants

68. The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the military forces of the Commonwealth, but any power or function vested in the President as Commander in Chief shall be exercised or performed only in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council.

Command of military forces

69. The President, acting only in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and subject to such regulations as the Parliament prescribes, shall have power to-
    (i) Declare war on foreign powers:

    (ii) Appoint ambassadors, consuls and other diplomatic representatives:

    (iii) Grant reprieves and pardons:

    (iv) Confer honours and titles, provided that no such honour or title shall be hereditary or otherwise transferrable.


Certain powers of the President


Chapter IIA - The Constitutional Council


70. There shall be a Constitutional Council, which shall have and may exercise only such powers and functions as are assigned to it by this Constitution, and such powers of adjudication and administration as the Parliament deems necessary for the execution and maintenance of those provisions of this Constitution relating to the Constitutional Council, and of all laws made thereunder.

The Constitutional Council may engage in such symbolic or ceremonial activities as it thinks fit.

The Constitutional Council has the right to seek advice, to encourage or to warn at any time.


Constitutional Council

70A. The Constitutional Council shall consist of five full members and four associate members.  The full members shall be directly chosen by the people of the Commonwealth, voting as one electorate, and the method of voting shall be proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and such election may be referred to as a "Presidential election".  The associate members shall be, ex officio, the Speaker, the immediate past Speaker, the immediate past President and the immediate past Vice President.

For the purposes of this section, the immediate past Speaker, the immediate past President and the immediate past Vice President shall be taken to be the most recent person incumbent in that office other than the current incumbent, except that persons having been removed from office as Speaker, President, Vice President or member of the Constitutional Council shall be disregarded.


Composition of the Constitutional Council

70B. Nominations of candidates for the office of full member of the Constitutional Council may be made, jointly or severally, by any citizen or citizens by means of a petition to the House of Representatives containing the names and signatures of at least one thousand persons qualified to be an elector of the members of the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives may review any such nomination and may reject it by a resolution affirmed by two thirds of the total number of the members of House of Representatives, but any motion for such a resolution must be sponsored by the Prime Minister and by the Leader of the Opposition, or by three members of Parliament who are members of the Government party or coalition of parties and three members of Parliament who are members of the Opposition party or coalition of parties.

Nominations shall open from the first day of the term of service of the Constitutional Council and shall close three months before the expiry of the Constitutional Council by effluxion of time, or twenty-eight days following the dissolution of the Constitutional Council, whichever first happens.

If, at the close of nominations, fewer than fifteen candidates have been nominated, either House of the Parliament may nominate such candidates as it thinks fit.  But if, at the close of nominations, more than fifty candidates have been nominated, the House of Representatives may vote, by secret ballot and by the method of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, to choose fifty candidates from amongst those already nominated, following the determination of which the remaining candidates shall be eliminated.


Nomination of members of the Constitutional Council

70C. Within ten days from the expiry of the Constitutional Council by effluxion of time, or upon the dissolution thereof, the Speaker shall cause writs to be issued for a Presidential election. The election shall be held within twenty-eight days before the expiry of the Constitutional Council by effluxion of time, or within three months following the dissolution of the Constitutional Council, whichever last happens.  The qualification of electors of full members of the Constitutional Council shall be the same as the qualification for electors of members of the House of Representatives.

Election of full members of the Constitutional Council

70D. Subject to this Constitution, the Parliament may make laws with respect to the conduct of the nomination, election and induction of members of the Constitutional Council, including the resolution of disputes in regard thereto. But any question respecting the qualification of a member of the Constitutional Council, or respecting a vacancy on the Constitutional Council, and any question of a disputed election of a member of the Constitutional Council, shall be determined by the High Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns.

Laws relating to nomination, election and induction of members of the Constitutional Council

The qualifications of a full member of the Constitutional Council shall be the same as those of a member of the House of Representatives from time to time, except that a person who is or becomes a member of the Commonwealth Parliament, or a State Parliament, or a Territory legislature, or who is or becomes a member of a political party, shall be incapable of sitting as a full member of the Constitutional Council.

Qualifications of members of the Constitutional Council

The actions of a person otherwise chosen as a full member of the Constitutional Council under this section are not invalidated only because the person was not qualified to be nominated as a candidate for the office of full member of the Constitutional Council, or to be chosen or of sitting as a full member of the Constitutional Council.

Actions of members of the Constitutional Council not invalidated

70E. The places of the full members of the Constitutional Council shall become vacant at the expiration of their term of service.

The term of service of a new Constitutional Council shall be six years, taken to begin on the first day of November nearest the expiration of the term of service of the previous Constitutional Council, except in the case of the election next after any dissolution of the Constitutional Council, when the term of service shall be taken to begin on the first day of November preceding the day of its election.

Unless a member of the Constitutional Council dies, resigns or is removed from office in accordance with this Constitution, notwithstanding the expiration of his term of service, that member of the Constitutional Council shall continue in office until his successor enters upon the office. 

A person may serve more than one term of service as a member of the Constitutional Council.


Term of service of members of the Constitutional Council

A member of the Constitutional Council shall not exercise a power or function of a member of the Constitutional Council unless he has made and subscribed an oath or affirmation of office for the office of member of the Constitutional Council in the form set forth in Schedule I to this Constitution.  The oath or affirmation shall be made and subscribed before the Chief Justice of the High Court, or if there is no Chief Justice of the High Court or if the Chief Justice of the High Court is absent from the Commonwealth such officers as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose, or in the absence of such provision, such officer as the Speaker shall, by Proclamation or otherwise, appoint.

Members of the Constitutional Council to make oath or affirmation of office

Members of the Constitutional Council shall receive such remuneration, payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as the Parliament fixes. The remuneration of a member of the Constitutional Council shall not be altered during his continuance in office.

Remuneration of members of the Constitutional Council

70F. If four or more full members of the Constitutional Council die, resign or are removed from office, the Constitutional Council is thereby dissolved.

Dissolution of the Constitutional Council

A member of the Constitutional Council shall not be removed except by a resolution to that effect in both Houses of the Parliament in the same session affirmed by two thirds of the total number of the members of each of those Houses, providing for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

Removal of members of the Constitutional Council

The President may resign his office as member of the Constitutional Council by writing addressed to the Vice-President, or if there is no Vice-President or if the Vice-President is absent from the Commonwealth the Chief Justice of the High Court, or if there is no Chief Justice of the High Court or if the Chief Justice of the High Court is absent from the Commonwealth to such officers as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose, or in the absence of such provision, to such officer as the President shall appoint. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein.

A member of the Constitutional Council other than the President may resign his office as member of the Constitutional Council by writing addressed to the President, or if there is no President or if the President is absent from the Commonwealth the Vice-President, or if there is no Vice-President or if the Vice-President is absent from the Commonwealth the Chief Justice of the High Court, or if there is no Chief Justice of the High Court or if the Chief Justice of the High Court is absent from the Commonwealth to such officers as the Parliament may prescribe for the purpose, or in the absence of such provision, to such officer as the President shall appoint. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein.


Resignation of members of the Constitutional Council

70G. If the place of a full member of the Constitutional Council becomes vacant before the expiration of his term of service, persons who were candidates in the last preceding election of the Constitutional Council but who were not elected shall be invited to nominate as candidates, and from amongst those candidates, using the method of counting back of ballots cast in the last preceding election of the Constitutional Council, the candidate obtaining the highest vote shall hold the place until the expiration of the term.

Casual vacancies

70H. The President shall be the President of the Constitutional Council, and the Vice-President shall be the Vice-President of the Constitutional Council.

The President and the Vice-President

70I. The President, or any two full members of the Constitutional Council,  may convene meetings of the Constitutional Council.

The presence of all full members shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the Constitutional Council for the exercise of its powers.

Subject to this Constitution, questions arising in the Constitutional Council shall be determined by the vote of a majority of full members, and each full member shall have one vote.  The President shall in all cases be entitled to vote; and when the votes are equal the President shall have a casting vote.  Associate members shall not be entitled to vote in questions arising in the Constitutional Council.


Meetings of the Constitutional Council


Chapter III - The Judicature


71. The judicial power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Federal Supreme Court, to be called the High Court of Australia, and in such other federal courts as the Parliament creates, and in such other courts as it invests with federal jurisdiction. The High Court shall consist of a Chief Justice, and so many other Justices, not less than twosix, as the Parliament prescribes. 

Judicial power and Courts 

72. The Justices of the High Court and of the other courts created by the Parliament - 
    (i) Shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council: 

    (ii) Shall not be removed except by the President in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, on an address from both Houses of the Parliament in the same session, praying for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity: 

    (iii) Shall receive such remuneration as the Parliament may fix; but the remuneration shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. 

The appointment of a Justice of the High Court shall be for a term expiring upon his attaining the age of seventy years, and a person shall not be appointed as a Justice of the High Court if he has attained that age. 

The appointment of a Justice of a court created by the Parliament shall be for a term expiring upon his attaining the age that is, at the time of his appointment, the age for Justices of that court and a person shall not be appointed as a Justice of such a court if he has attained the age that is for the time being the maximum age for Justices of that court. 

Subject to this section, the maximum age for Justices of any court created by the Parliament is seventy years. 

The Parliament may make a law fixing an age that is less than seventy years as the maximum age for Justices of a court created by the Parliament and may at any time repeal or amend such a law, but any such repeal or amendment does not affect the term of office of a Justice under an appointment made before the repeal or amendment. 

A Justice of the High Court or of a court created by the Parliament may resign his office by writing under his hand delivered to the President. 

A reference in this section to the appointment of a Justice of the High Court or of a court created by the Parliament shall be read as including a reference to the appointment of a person who holds office as a Justice of the High Court or of a court created by the Parliament to another office of Justice of the same court having a different status or designation. 


Judges' appointment, tenure and remuneration 

73. The High Court shall have jurisdiction, with such exceptions and subject to such regulations as the Parliament prescribes, to hear and determine appeals from all judgments, decrees, orders and sentences- 
    (i) Of any Justice or Justices exercising the original jurisdiction of the High Court:

    (ii) Of any other federal court, or court exercising federal jurisdiction; or of the Supreme Court of any State, or of any other court of any State from which no appeal lies to the Supreme Court of that State: 

    (iii) Of the Inter-State Commission, but as to questions of law only: 

and the judgment of the High Court in all such cases shall be final and conclusive. 

But no exception or regulation prescribed by the Parliament shall prevent the High Court from hearing and determining any appeal from the Supreme Court of a State in any matter.


Appellate jurisdiction of High Court 

74. [Deleted]

75. In all matters-
    (i) Arising under any treaty: 

    (ii) Affecting ambassadors, consuls or other representatives of other countries: 

    (iii) In which the Commonwealth, or a person suing or being sued on behalf of the Commonwealth, is a party: 

    (iv) Between States, or between residents of different States, or between a State and a resident of another State:

    (v) In which a writ of mandamus or prohibition or an injunction is sought against an officer of the Commonwealth: 

the High Court shall have original jurisdiction. 

Original jurisdiction of High Court 

76. The Parliament may make laws conferring original jurisdiction on the High Court in any matter- 
    (i) Arising under this Constitution, or involving its interpretation: 

    (ii) Arising under any laws made by the Parliament: 

    (iii) Of Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction: 

    (iv) Relating to the same subject-matter claimed under the laws of difference States. 


Additional original jurisdiction 

77. With respect to any of the matters mentioned in the last two sections the Parliament may make laws- 
    (i) Defining the jurisdiction of any federal court other than the High Court: 

    (ii) Defining the extent to which the jurisdiction of any federal court shall be exclusive of that which belongs to or is invested in the courts of the States: 

    (iii) Investing any court of a State with federal jurisdiction. 


Power to define jurisdiction

78. The Parliament may make laws conferring rights to proceed against the Commonwealth or a State in respect of matters within the limits of the judicial power. 

Proceedings against Commonwealth or State 

79. The federal jurisdiction of any court may be exercised by such number of judges as the Parliament prescribes. 

Number of judges 

80. The 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, and if the offence was not committed within any State the trial shall be held at such place or places as the Parliament prescribes. 

Trial by jury 


Chapter IV - Finance And Trade


81. All revenues or moneys raised or received by the Executive Government of the Commonwealth shall form one Consolidated Revenue Fund, to be appropriated for the purposes of the Commonwealth in the manner and subject to the charges and liabilities imposed by this Constitution.

Consolidated Revenue Fund

82. The costs, charges, and expenses incident to the collection, management, and receipt of the Consolidated Revenue Fund shall form the first charge thereon; and the revenue of the Commonwealth shall in the first instance be applied to the payment of the expenditure of the Commonwealth. 

Expenditure charged thereon 

83. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury of the Commonwealth except under appropriation made by law.

Money to be appropriated by law 

84. When any department of the public service of a State becomes transferred to the Commonwealth, all officers of the department shall become subject to the control of the Executive Government of the Commonwealth. 

Any such officer who is not retained in the service of the Commonwealth shall, unless he is appointed to some other office of equal emolument in the public service of the State, be entitled to receive from the state any pension, gratuity, or other compensation, payable under the law of the State on the abolition of his office. 

Any such officer who is retained in the service of the Commonwealth shall preserve all his existing and accruing rights, and shall be entitled to retire from office at the time, and on the pension or retiring allowance, which would be permitted by the law of the State if his service with the Commonwealth were a continuation of his service with the State. Such pension or retiring allowance shall be paid to him by the Commonwealth; but the State shall pay to the Commonwealth a part thereof, to be calculated on the proportion which his term of service with the State bears to his whole term of service, and for the purpose of the calculation his salary shall be taken to be that paid to him by the State at the time of the transfer.


Transfer of officers 

85. When any department of the public service of a State is transferred to the Commonwealth- 
    (i) All property of the State of any kind, used exclusively in connexion with the department, shall become vested in the Commonwealth:

    (ii) The Commonwealth may acquire any property of the State, of any kind used, but not exclusively used in connexion with the department; the value thereof shall, if no agreement can be made, be ascertained in, as nearly as may be, the manner in which the value of land, or of an interest in land, taken by the State for public purposes is ascertained under the law of the State in force at that time: 

    (iii) The Commonwealth shall compensate the State for the value of any property passing to the Commonwealth under this section; if no agreement can be made as to the mode of compensation, it shall be determined under laws to be made by the Parliament: 

    (iv) The Commonwealth shall, at the date of the transfer, assume the current obligations of the State in respect of the department transferred. 


Transfer of property of State 

86. [Deleted]

87. [Deleted]

88. Duties of customs shall be uniform throughout the Commonwealth.

Uniform duties of customs 

89. [Deleted]

90. The power of the Parliament to impose duties of customs and of excise, and to grant bounties on the production or export of goods, is exclusive.

Exclusive power over customs, excise, and bounties 

91. Nothing in this Constitution prohibits a State from granting any aid to or bounty on mining for gold, silver, or other metals, nor from granting, with the consent of both Houses of the Parliament of the Commonwealth expressed by resolution, any aid to or bounty on the production or export of goods. 

Exceptions as to bounties 

92. Trade, commerce, and intercourse among the States, whether by means of internal carriage or ocean navigation, shall be absolutely free.

Trade within the Commonwealth to be free 

93. [Deleted]

94. The Parliament may provide, on such basis as it deems fair, for the monthly payment to the several States of all surplus revenue of the Commonwealth. 

Distribution of surplus 

95. [Deleted]

96. The Parliament may grant financial assistance to any State on such terms and conditions as the Parliament thinks fit. 

Financial assistance to States 

97. The Parliament may make laws with respect to the receipt of revenue and the expenditure of money on account of the Commonwealth, or the Government or of an officer of the Commonwealth, and the audit thereof.

Audit 

98. The power of the Parliament to make laws in respect to trade and commerce extends to navigation and shipping, and to railways the property of any State.

Trade and commerce includes navigation and State railways 

99. The Commonwealth shall not, by any law or regulation of trade, commerce, or revenue, give preference to one State or any part thereof over another State or any part thereof. 

Commonwealth not to give preference 

100. The Commonwealth shall not, by any law or regulation of trade or commerce, abridge the right of a State or of the residents therein to the reasonable use of the waters of rivers for conservation or irrigation. 

Nor abridge right to use water 

101. There shall be an Inter-State Commission, with such powers of adjudication and administration as the Parliament deems necessary for the execution and maintenance, within the Commonwealth, of the provisions of this Constitution relating to trade and commerce, and of all laws made thereunder. 

Inter-State Commission 

102. The Parliament may by any law with respect to trade or commerce forbid, as to railways, any preference or discrimination by any State, or by any authority constituted under a State, if such preference or discrimination is undue and unreasonable, or unjust to any State; due regard being had to the financial responsibilities incurred by any State in connexion with the construction and maintenance of its railways. But no preference or discrimination shall, within the meaning of this section, be taken to be undue and unreasonable, or unjust to any State, unless so adjudged by the Inter-State Commission. 

Parliament may forbid preferences by State 

103. The members of the Inter-State Commission- 
    (i) Shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council:

    (ii) Shall hold office for seven years, but may be removed within that time by the President in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, on an address from both Houses of the Parliament in the same session praying for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity: 

    (iii) Shall receive such remuneration as the Parliament may fix; but such remuneration shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. 


Commissioners' appointment, tenure and remuneration 

104. Nothing in this Constitution shall render unlawful any rate of the carriage of goods upon a railway, the property of a State, if the rate is deemed by the Inter-State Commission to be necessary for the development of the territory of the State, and if the rate applies equally to goods within the State and to goods passing into the State form other States. 

Saving of certain rates 

105. The Parliament may take over from the State their public debts, or a proportion thereof according to the respective numbers of their people as shown by the latest statistics of the Commonwealth, and may convert, renew, or consolidate such debts, or any part thereof; and the States shall indemnify the Commonwealth in respect of the debts taken over, and thereafter the interest payable in respect of the debts shall be deducted and retained from the portions of the surplus revenue of the Commonwealth payable to the several States, or if such surplus is insufficient, or if there is no surplus, then the deficiency or the whole amount shall be paid by the several States. 

Taking over public debts of States 

105A. (1) The Commonwealth may make agreements with the States with respect to the public debts of the States, including- 
    (a) the taking over of such debts by the Commonwealth; 

    (b) the management of such debts; 

    (c) the payment of interest and the provision and management of sinking funds in respect of such debts; 

    (d) the consolidation, renewal, conversion and redemption of such debts; 

    (e) the indemnification of the Commonwealth by the States in respect of debts taken over by the Commonwealth; and

    (f) the borrowing of money by the States or by the Commonwealth, or by the Commonwealth for the States. 

(2) The Parliament may make laws for validating any such agreement.

(3) The Parliament may make laws for the carrying out by the parties thereto of any such agreement. 

(4) Any such agreement may be varied or rescinded by the parties thereto.

(5) Every such agreement and any such variation thereof shall be binding upon the Commonwealth and the States parties thereto notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution or the Constitution of the several States or in any law of the Parliament of the Commonwealth or of any State. 

(6) The powers conferred by this section shall not be construed as being limited in any way by the provision of section 105 of this Constitution. 


Agreements with respect to State debts 


Chapter V - The States


106. The Constitution of each State of the Commonwealth shall, subject to this Constitution, continue as at the establishment of the Commonwealth, or as at the admission or establishment of the State, as the case may be, until altered in accordance with the Constitution of the State. 

Saving of Constitutions 

107. Every power of the Parliament of a territory which has become or becomes a State, shall, unless it is by this Constitution exclusively vested in the Parliament of the Commonwealth or withdrawn from the Parliament of the State, continue as at the establishment of the Commonwealth, or as at the admission or establishment of the State, as the case may be.

Saving of power of State Parliaments

108. Every law in force in any territory which has become or becomes a State, and relating to any matter within the powers of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, shall, subject to this Constitution, continue in force in the State; and until provision is made in that behalf by the Parliament of the Commonwealth, the Parliament of the State shall have such powers of alteration and of repeal in respect of any such law as the Parliament of the territory had until the territory became a State.

Saving of State laws

109. 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.

Inconsistency of laws

110. The provisions of this Constitution relating to the Governor of a State extend and apply to the Governor for the time being of the State, or other chief executive officer or administrator of the government of the State.

Provisions referring to Governor

110A. The Governor of a State shall, subject to this Constitution, be nominated, designated and removed in accordance with the law of the State, and shall be inducted in like manner as the Speaker.  The law of a State may prescribe a role for the Constitutional Council in the nomination, designation and removal of a Governor, but only to the extent that the Constitutional Council from time to time agrees to participate, but when the Constitutional Council declines to participate, the law of the State may provide for an alternative process of nomination, designation and removal of a Governor.

The Governor of a State

110B. Subject to section 110A, the executive power of a State is vested in and is exercisable by the Governor of the State subject to such limitations as may be imposed by this Constitution and by the Constitution of the State, and to such regulations as the Parliament of the State prescribes. 

The powers, functions, rights, privileges, immunities and prerogatives of the Crown in right of the State shall be enjoyed by the Governor of the State, or by the State, as the case may be, subject to this Constitution and to such regulations as the Parliament of the State prescribes. 

Subject to this Constitution, the Parliament of the Commonwealth may make laws to give effect to the provisions of section 110A and of this section, notwithstanding that the powers and functions of the Governor and other matters relating to the office of Governor may be prescribed by the law of the State. 


Executive power of a State

111. The Parliament of a State may surrender any part of the State to the Commonwealth; and upon such surrender, and the acceptance thereof by the Commonwealth, such part of the State shall become subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. 

States may surrender territory 

112. A State may levy on imports or exports, or on goods passing into or out of the State, such charges as may be necessary for executing the inspection laws of the State; but the net produce of all charges so levied shall be for the use of the Commonwealth; and any such inspection laws may be annulled by the Parliament of the Commonwealth. 

States may levy charges for inspection laws. 

113. All fermented, distilled, or other intoxicating liquids passing into any State or remaining therein for use, consumption, sale, or storage, shall be subject to the laws of the State as if such liquids had been produced in the State. 

Intoxicating liquids 

114. A State shall not, without the consent of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, raise or maintain any naval or military force, or impose any tax on property of any kind belonging to the Commonwealth, nor shall the Commonwealth impose any tax on property of any kind belonging to a State. 

States may not raise forces. Taxation of property of Commonwealth or State 

115. A State shall not coin money, nor make anything but gold and silver coin a legal tender in payment of debts. 

States not to coin money 

116. [Deleted]

117. An Australian citizen, resident in any State, shall not be subject in any other State to any disability or discrimination which would not be equally applicable to him if he were an Australian citizen resident in such other State. 

Rights of residents in States 

118. Full faith and credit shall be given, throughout the Commonwealth, to the laws, the public Acts and records, and the judicial proceedings of every State. 

Recognition of laws, etc. of States

119. The Commonwealth shall protect every State against invasion and, on the application of the Executive Government of the State, against domestic violence.

Protection of States from invasion and violence 

120. Every State shall make provision for the detention in its prisons of persons accused or convicted of offences against the laws of the Commonwealth, and for the punishment of persons convicted of such offences, and the Parliament of the Commonwealth may make laws to give effect to this provision.

Custody of offenders against the laws of the Commonwealth 


Chapter VI - New States


121. The Parliament may admit to the Commonwealth or establish new States, and may upon such admission or establishment make or impose such terms and conditions, including the extent of representation in either House of the Parliament, as it thinks fit. 

New States may be admitted or established.

122. The Parliament may make laws for the government of any territory surrendered by any State to and accepted by the Commonwealth, or of any territory placed under the authority of and accepted by the Commonwealth, or otherwise acquired by the Commonwealth, and may allow the representation of such territory in either House of the Parliament to the extent and on the terms which it thinks fit, and such territory shall be known as a "Territory of the Commonwealth". 

Government of territories. 

123. The Parliament of the Commonwealth may, with the consent of the Parliament of a State, and the approval of the majority of the electors of the State voting upon the question, increase, diminish, or otherwise alter the limits of the State, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed on, and may, with the like consent, make provision respecting the effect and operation of any increase or diminution or alteration of territory in relation to any State affected. 

Alterations of limits of States. 

124. A new State may be formed by separation of territory from a State, but only with the consent of the Parliament thereof, and a new State may be formed by the union of two or more States or parts of States, but only with the consent of the Parliaments of the States affected. 

Formation of new States. 


Chapter VII - Miscellaneous


125. The seat of Government of the Commonwealth shall be determined by the Parliament, and shall be within territory which shall have been granted to or acquired by the Commonwealth, and shall be vested in and belong to the Commonwealth, and shall be in the State of New South Wales, and be distant not less than one hundred miles from Sydney. 

Such territory shall contain an area of not less than one hundred square miles, and such portion thereof as shall consist of Crown lands shall be granted to the Commonwealth without any payment therefor.


Seat of Government 

126. This Constitution, and all laws made under it by the Parliament of the Commonwealth, shall be binding on the courts, judges, and people of every State and of every part of the Commonwealth, notwithstanding anything in the laws of any State.

Operation of Constitution and laws

126A. When a provision of this Constitution requires a Principal Officer of the Commonwealth to act, if-
(a) there is no such Officer; or

(b) no person is acting as that Officer; or

(c) that Officer refuses to act or fails to act in accordance with such provision,

that act shall nevertheless be deemed to have been performed-
(a) at noon, ten days after the date on which the act was required by such provision to have been performed; or

(b) at a time and date set by the Constitutional Council; or

(c) at a time and date set by the Federal Executive Council,

whichever first happens.

Principal Officers of the Commonwealth - required acts

126B. When a provision of this Constitution provides that a Principal Officer of the Commonwealth may act as he thinks fit, or according to his discretion, he may act (or omit to act) with, without, or contrary to, the advice of the Federal Executive Council, or of the Prime Minister, or of any other Minister of State, or of any person acting with the authority of any of those officers, or of any other person exercising executive power.

In so acting (or omitting to act), the Principal Officer shall have due regard to established conventions.


Principal Officers of the Commonwealth - discretionary acts

126C. When a provision of this Constitution provides that a Principal Officer of the Commonwealth may act subject to the advice of the Federal Executive Council, he may act (or omit to act) according to his discretion, except that no more than four days before so acting he shall inform the Federal Executive Council of his intention to act, notwithstanding that whenever the Federal Executive Council advises the Principal Officer to act on any occasion he shall on that occasion act in accordance with that advice, except that a Principal Officer may not be prevented from acting by the advice of the Federal Executive Council.

In so acting (or omitting to act), the Principal Officer shall have due regard to established conventions.


Principal Officers of the Commonwealth - qualified discretionary acts

126D. [This section should be included if reserve powers are subject to veto by the Constitutional Council.  Sections 28, 57, 63, 63A, 63B and 126D should be read together.] When a provision of this Constitution provides that an act of the Speaker is subject to the review of the Constitutional Council, the Speaker may act (or omit to act) according to his discretion, except that no more than four days before so acting he shall inform the Constitutional Council of his intention to act, and within one day of the Speaker having so acted, the Constitutional Council may, by a resolution affirmed by four full members (one of whom shall be the President), disallow the act of the Speaker, and such disallowance shall annul the act from the time the act was performed.

Review by the Constitutional Council of discretionary acts of the Speaker

127. In this Constitution-
    The Commonwealth means the Commonwealth of Australia as established and continuing under this Constitution. 

    The Crown refers to the sovereignty of Australia vested in the Commonwealth, the States, the Territories and any other authorities exercising powers or functions under the Constitution, but, subject to this Constitution and to law, where this term is used to refer to an individual personage, it refers to the President.

    The Original States means New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. 

    The States means the original States, and such territories as may be admitted into or established by the Commonwealth as States.

    A Principal Officer of the Commonwealth means one or any of the President, the Vice-President, the Constitutional Council, the Chief Justice, the Speaker, the President of the Senate, the Prime Minister or the Federal Executive Council.


Definitions


Chapter VIII - Alteration Of The Constitution


128. This Constitution shall not be altered except in the following manner:- 

The proposed law for the alteration thereof must be passed by an absolute majority of each House of the Parliament, and not less than two nor more than six months after its passage through both Houses the proposed law shall be submitted in each State and Territory of the Commonwealth to the electors qualified to vote for the election of members of the House of Representatives.

But if either House passes any such proposed law by an absolute majority, and the other House rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with any amendment to which the first-mentioned House will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the first-mentioned House in the same or the next session again passes the proposed law by an absolute majority with or without any amendment which has been made or agreed to by the other House, and such other House rejects or fails to pass it or passes it with any amendment to which the first-mentioned House will not agree, the Speaker, acting in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, may submit the proposed law as last proposed by the first-mentioned House, and either with or without any amendments subsequently agreed to by both Houses, to the electors in each State and Territory of the Commonwealth qualified to vote for the election of the House of Representatives. 

When a proposed law is submitted to the electors the vote shall be taken in such manner as the Parliament prescribes. But until the qualification of electors of members of the House of Representatives becomes uniform throughout the Commonwealth, only one-half the electors voting for and against the proposed law shall be counted in any State in which adult suffrage prevails. 

And if in a majority of the States a majority of the electors voting approve the proposed law, and if a majority of all the electors voting also approve the proposed law, it shall be presented to the President for assent.

No alternation diminishing the proportionate representation of any State in either House of the Parliament, or the minimum number of representatives of a State in the House of Representatives, or increasing, diminishing, or otherwise altering the limits of the State, or in any manner affecting the provisions of the Constitution in relation thereto, shall become law unless the majority of the electors voting in that State approve the proposed law. 

In this section "Territory of the Commonwealth" means any territory referred to in section 122 of this Constitution in respect of which there is in force a law allowing its representation in the House of Representatives. 


Mode of altering Constitution 


Schedule I - Oaths and Affirmations

Part I - Oath or affirmation of allegiance

OATH


Under God, I, A.B., do swear that I will be loyal to and will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian People, whose rights and liberties I respect, whose democratic beliefs I share, and whose laws I will uphold, and that I will do right to all manner of people according to law without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

AFFIRMATION


I, A.B., do solemnly and sincerely affirm that I will be loyal to and will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian People, whose rights and liberties I respect, whose democratic beliefs I share, and whose laws I will uphold, and that I will do right to all manner of people according to law without fear or favour, affection or ill will.



 

Part II - Oath or affirmation of office

OATH


Under God, I, A.B., do swear that I will be loyal to and will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian People, whose rights and liberties I respect, whose democratic beliefs I share, and whose laws I will uphold, and that I will do right to all manner of people according to law without fear or favour, affection or ill will, and that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfil the duties of the office of President of Australia.

AFFIRMATION


I, A.B., do solemnly and sincerely affirm that I will be loyal to and will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian People, whose rights and liberties I respect, whose democratic beliefs I share, and whose laws I will uphold, and that I will do right to all manner of people according to law without fear or favour, affection or ill will, and that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfil the duties of the office of President of Australia.
(NOTE - The title of the office of President of Australia is to be substituted with the title of such other office as the case may require.)


Schedule II - Transitional and Temporary Provisions


1. The provisions of this Constitution referring to the establishment of the republic shall be construed as referring to the commencement of Schedules 1 and 2 to the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x.

Establishment of the republic

2. The Governor-General incumbent in the office at the establishment of the republic shall assume the office of President and shall continue in that office until the expiration of his term of service, which shall be no more than five years from the commencement of his term of service.

The first President may be chosen before the expiration of the term of service of the incumbent Governor-General.


The Governor-General

3. Before the establishment of the republic, the Parliament may make laws that the Parliament could have made after that time because of the enactment of the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x, and such laws may take effect before that time.

Parliament may make laws during transitional period

4. The alterations of this Constitution made by the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x do not affect:
    (i) the validity or continued effect, after the establishment of the republic, of anything done before that time under this Constitution or under the law in force in the Commonwealth; or 

    (ii) the continuity of the Parliament and its proceedings after the establishment of the republic; or 

    (iii) the qualifications of a senator or a member of the House of Representatives for the remainder of the term of a person who is a senator or member at the establishment of the republic; or 

    (iv) the continuity of the Executive Government of the Commonwealth, including in particular the membership and proceedings of the Federal Executive Council, after the establishment of the republic; or 

    (v) the continuity of courts and their jurisdiction and proceedings after the establishment of the republic.


Savings

5. If, after the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x has been assented to, but before the establishment of the republic, the Parliament of a State resolves that the Queen shall continue to be head of state of the State after the establishment of the republic, she shall continue to be head of state of the State (provided that Her Majesty does not decline to so continue), and under such circumstances, the provisions of Chapter V of this Constitution referring to the Constitutional Council or to the President in respect of that State shall be construed as referring to the Queen in respect of that State, and the provisions of this Constitution, or of the Constitution of a State, or in any law, rule, decree or order of the Commonwealth or of the State referring to the Crown (in the case of an individual personage) in right of that State shall be construed as referring to the Queen. The Parliament of that State may at any time thereafter declare by resolution that the Queen shall cease to be head of state of that State, and such resolution shall be irrevocable.

But after the establishment of the republic, in the absence of a resolution declaring that the Queen shall continue to be head of state of the State, or following a resolution by the Parliament of a State declaring that the Queen shall cease to be head of state of that State:

    (i) the Queen shall cease to be head of state of the State, and shall have no powers or functions in respect of the State;

    (ii) the Governor of the State shall cease to be Her Majesty's representative in the State;

    (iii) the provisions of any law, rule, decree or order of the Commonwealth, or of the Constitution of a State, or of any law, rule, decree or order of a State referring to the Crown (in the case of an individual personage) in right of that State, or to the Queen in right of the State, shall be construed as referring to the President.

The continuity of the office of a Governor of a State shall not be affected by the alterations of this Constitution made by the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x, and a person holding the office of Governor of the State immediately before the Queen ceases to be head of state of the State shall continue to hold the office as if he had at the time of his appointment to that office been appointed in accordance with the Constitution as altered by the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x .

References to the Queen in this clause shall extend to the Queen's heirs and successors in the sovereignty of the United
Kingdom.


The States

6. Subject to section 5 of this Schedule, the provisions of any law, rule, decree or order of the Commonwealth, or of the Constitution of a State, or of any law, rule, decree or order of a State referring to the Crown (in the case of an individual personage), or to the Queen, or to the Governor-General shall be construed as referring to the President.

References to the Crown, the Queen and the Governor-General

7. The alterations of this Constitution made by the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x do not affect the continunity of the federal system, including the unified system of law, under this Constitution.

Unified federal system

8. The Commonwealth Parliament may, at the request of a State Parliament, amend section 7 of the Australia Act 1986 and section 7 of the Australia Act 1986 of the United Kingdom to the extent that it forms part of the law of the Commonwealth or that State, to provide that those sections do not apply to the State. 

Nothing in this clause prevents the amendment of section 7 of the Australia Act 1986, or section 7 of the Australia Act 1986 of the United Kingdom to the extent that it forms part of the law of the Commonwealth or a State, in accordance with subsection 15(1) of the Australia Act 1986.


Amendment of Australia Act

9. The enactment of the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x does not prevent the evolution of the constitutional conventions relating to the exercise of the reserve powers exercisable by any of the Principal Officers of the Commonwealth.

Continued conventions

10. Subject to this Constitution, abolition of the monarchy in itself shall not affect any power, function, right, privilege, immunity, or prerogative derived from the royal prerogative and exercisable by the Crown, and any prerogative derived from the royal prerogative and enjoyed by the Crown in right of the Commonwealth immediately before the establishment of the republic shall continue to be enjoyed by the Commonwealth, or by such Principal Officer of the Commonwealth, as the case requires.

Continuation of prerogative

11. In respect of matters which, under this Constitution, pass to the Executive Government of the Commonwealth, all powers and functions which at the establishment of the Commonwealth are vested in the Governor of a Colony, or in the Governor of a Colony with the advice of his Executive Council, or in any authority of a Colony, shall vest in the President, or in the Speaker, or in the Federal Executive Council, or in the authority exercising similar powers under the Commonwealth, as the case requires.

Certain powers of Governors to vest in Speaker

12. Nothing in the provisions added to section 72 by the Constitution Alteration (Retirement of Judges) 1977 affects the continuance of a person in office as a Justice of a court under an appointment made before the commencement of those provisions.

Continuance in office of Judges

13. The Federal Council of Australasia Act, 1885, is hereby repealed, but so as not to affect any laws passed by the Federal Council of Australasia and in force at the establishment of the Commonwealth.

Any such law may be repealed as to any State by the Parliament of the Commonwealth, or as to any colony not being a State by the Parliament thereof.


Repeal of Federal Council Act

14. After the passing of this Act the Colonial Boundaries Act, 1895, shall not apply to any colony which becomes a State of the Commonwealth; but the Commonwealth shall be taken to be a self-governing colony for the purposes of that Act.

Application of Colonial Boundaries

15. The Parliament may make laws for validating any agreement made pursuant to section section 105A before the commencement of that section.

Saving of agreements with respect to State debts

16. The provisions section 107 and section 108 referring to a territory shall be construed as including a reference to a Colony which became a State at the establishment of the Commonwealth.

Reference to Colonies

17. Nothing in this Constitution shall be taken to prevent the continued use of the terms "Crown", "Royal" or other related terms (including the use of the terms "Crown land" and "Crown lease"), or of the royal insignia, by any person or organisation, whether public or private. Any change that may be effected in any context to the terms "Crown", "Royal" or other related terms shall not affect any existing rights and entitlements in respect of that to which those terms apply.

Provision for continued use of "Crown" etc.

18. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, any person of the full age of eighteen years who is not a citizen of the Commonwealth, but who was qualified as an elector for the House of Representatives immediately before the Constitution Alteration (Establishment of Republic) 200x takes effect shall remain so qualified, notwithstanding the provisions of section 30.

Saving of qualifications of electors

19. Until the powers, privileges, and immunities of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, and of the members and the committees of each House are declared by the Parliament, they shall be those of the Commons House of Parliament of the United Kingdom, and of its members and committees, at the establishment of the Commonwealth.

Powers, privileges and immunities of Parliament

20. The reference in section 52 (xxxviii) to a "power not otherwise vested by this Constitution in the Commonwealth, except such powers the exercise of which is prohibited by this Constitution" shall be construed as including a reference to a power which as at the establishment of this Constitution could be exercised only by the Parliament of the United Kingdom or by the Federal Council of Australasia.

Powers of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Federal Council of Australasia


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