What is the Constitution and how was it created?

Question 1

Constitution

Answer 1

The Constitution is a set of rules and principles that guide the way Australia is governed.
It came into effect on the 1 January 1901 when the Governor General was sworn in. A few months later (9th May 1901) the first Parliament was sworn in at the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne.

Question 2

Constitutional Convention

Answer 2

It was drafted by a group of representatives from each colony. This group was called the Constitutional Convention.

Question 3

Lengthy negotiations

Answer 3

There was a lot of negotiation between them because whilst they all agreed that forming a new country was a good idea, they all wanted to protect their own state’s interests as much as they could. Ultimately, they agreed on a final draft which each state took back to their respective colonies for a vote by the citizens of each colony.

Question 4

Referendum: Votes of this nature are called a “referendum”

Answer 4

As long as there was a majority vote in favour of the draft, the new country of Australia would be formed. If just one state voted against it, the whole plan for a new country would be dropped and the colonies would continue as before.

Question 5

Referendum

Answer 5

The method used for changing the wording of the Constitution.