Government & Law
213 practice questions with detailed explanations
The Government and Law section tests your knowledge of Australia's legal and governmental systems. This includes how the Constitution works, the structure of the court system, the responsibilities of different levels of government, and the rights and duties of Australian citizens under the law. These questions form a significant portion of the citizenship test.
Australia's legal system is based on the rule of law — the principle that no person is above the law and that laws apply equally to everyone. The court system is independent of the government, ensuring fair and impartial justice. The High Court of Australia is the final court of appeal and has the power to interpret the Constitution. Understanding these structures helps you appreciate how rights are protected in Australia.
This section also covers practical aspects of Australian law, such as the responsibilities of citizens (including jury duty, voting, and obeying the law), the role of the police, and how the tax system works. Questions may also touch on important legislation like anti-discrimination laws and the rights of Indigenous Australians. By practising these questions, you will build a solid understanding of how government and law shape daily life in Australia.
Key Points
- •Covers the Australian Constitution and how it can be changed
- •Tests knowledge of the court system including the High Court
- •Includes citizen responsibilities: voting, jury duty, obeying laws
- •Covers the role of police and the justice system
- •Questions about anti-discrimination laws and equal rights
- •Tests understanding of the tax system and civic duties
Study by Subtopic
Practice Questions
Easy Questions
72Senators are
At a citizenship ceremony, you pledge to
To raise concerns about government policy, you can contact
When were the colonies united into a federation?
When the colonies united, the new nation was called
The High Court of Australia has
The Australian Constitution can be changed by
Legislative power is
Parliament is made up of
Executive power is
Which of these about the King of Australia is correct?
Which of these about the Governor-General is correct?
Australia is a
The leader of the Australian Government is
The representative of the Head of State in Australia is
An elected representative in the Australian or state parliament is called
What does MP stand for?
Members of Parliament are
Members of the Houses of Parliament are elected at
Australia is divided into
How many senators are there in total?
How many states are there in Australia?
How many mainland territories are there in Australia?
State and territory governments are based in
Which of the following is a type of local government area?
Which of these is a responsibility of the Australian Government?
Which of these is a responsibility of state and territory governments?
Which of these is a responsibility of state and territory governments?
Which of these is a responsibility of local governments?
A political party is
The leader of the Australian Government is
In Australian politics, a Bill is
Who can propose a new law or change to existing law?
A Bill becomes a law when
In Australia, the right to be represented by a lawyer in court belongs to
The role of a jury is to
State and territory police forces deal with
Australia's national police force is called
General police work in the Australian Capital Territory is done by
In Australia, road and traffic rules are controlled by
What is the main purpose of the Australian Constitution?
Which branch of government has the power to interpret and apply the law?
How are senators represented in the Senate?
Which of the following is a responsibility of state and territory governments?
What is the main role of the Senate?
Which level of government is responsible for rubbish collection?
Who leads a state government?
How many states and territories does Australia have?
What is the first step in how a law is made in Australia?
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
What is the name of the representative of the King in a state?
What is one of the ceremonial roles of the Governor-General?
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of local government?
Who is the current Head of State of Australia?
How is voting conducted in Australian elections?
Which of these statements about voting in Australian elections is correct?
What is the name of the legal document that sets out the basic rules for the government of Australia?
Which body has the power to make and change Australia's laws?
In what year did the Australian Constitution come into effect?
In Australia, who must enrol to vote?
What is a referendum?
Australia's Head of State is
How many Houses does the Australian Parliament have?
The two Houses of the Australian Parliament are
Another name for the House of Representatives is
In Australia, peace and order in the community is maintained by
To drive a car in Australia,
What type of democracy does Australia have?
The three levels of government in Australia are
Which level of government is responsible for schools?
Who does the Governor-General represent in Australia?
The Prime Minister is the leader of which level of government?
Medium Questions
135In Australia, citizens have a say in government by
If you are not correctly enrolled to vote,
What does AEC stand for?
The Australian Electoral Commission is
Which of the following is true about the AEC?
If you do not vote and have no good reason,
Compulsory voting ensures that
Your elected representative should consider your suggestions when
Before 1901, Australia was
Before 1901, each colony
People wanted to unite the colonies because
People wanted to unite the colonies because
The basic rules for the government of Australia are set out in
Which of these was established by the Australian Constitution?
The Australian Parliament consists of
In which referendum did over 90% of Australians vote 'Yes' for Aboriginal peoples to be counted in the Census?
To change the Constitution, a referendum needs
A double majority in a referendum means
The three types of government power in Australia are
Which of these statements about the Australian Constitution is correct?
The Australian Constitution divides power to
The Executive includes
Ministers are responsible for
Judicial power is
Who are independent of parliament and government?
The Governor-General is appointed by
In each state, the King is represented by
A constitutional monarchy is a country where
Australia's parliamentary democracy reflects
A role of the Governor-General is
The Governor-General's special powers are called
Who starts the process for a federal election?
The leader of a state government is
The leader of a territory government is
A government minister is
Government ministers are chosen by
Government ministers are responsible for
A Senator is
A Councillor is
The Australian Government is also called the
Members of the Houses of Parliament are elected by
The House of Representatives belongs to
In the House of Representatives, people are represented by
The number of MPs for each state or territory is based on
How many members are elected to the House of Representatives?
The House of Representatives considers new laws by
Members of Parliament and senators discuss
In the Senate, states are represented
How many senators does each state elect?
Which of these about Australian states is correct?
State governments operate
In the Northern Territory, the King is represented by
In the Northern Territory, the Administrator is appointed by
An Administrator's role is similar to that of
Which of these about states and territories is correct?
The states and the Northern Territory are divided into
Which of these about local government is correct?
Which of these is a responsibility of the Australian Government?
Which of these is a responsibility of the Australian Government?
Which of these is a responsibility of the Australian Government?
Which of these is a responsibility of the Australian Government?
Which of these is a responsibility of state and territory governments?
Which of these is a responsibility of state and territory governments?
Which of these is a responsibility of state and territory governments?
Which of these is a responsibility of local governments?
Which of these is a responsibility of local governments?
Which of these is a responsibility of local governments?
Which of these is a responsibility of local governments?
Which of these about government responsibilities is correct?
Members of a political party
Which of these is a main political party in Australia?
Which of these is a main political party in Australia?
Parliamentarians who do not belong to any political party are called
In Australia, who is free to join a political party?
After a federal election, the Australian Government is formed by
In Australian politics, the Opposition is
Who recommends members of Parliament to become ministers?
Who approves the appointment of the Prime Minister and ministers?
In the Australian Government, a portfolio is
The Cabinet is made up of
The Cabinet is
How many steps does a Bill go through to become a law?
After a Bill is proposed, it is
A Bill goes to the Governor-General when
Which of these about Australian courts is correct?
Courts base their decisions on
The highest authority in a court is
Which of these about judges and magistrates is correct?
Judges and magistrates are appointed by
Which of these about Australia's court system is correct?
In some cases, a court uses this to decide if a person has broken the law:
A jury is made up of
In a court, the law is explained to the jury by
In a criminal trial, if the jury finds a person guilty,
Part of the police's job is to
Which of these about Australian police is correct?
In Australia, who decides if a person is guilty or not?
Which of these about Australian police is correct?
Crimes against federal laws are investigated by
The right to safe relationships with families and loved ones belongs to
In Australia, violence towards another person is
Domestic or family violence is
Which of these about domestic violence in Australia is correct?
For breaking traffic laws, you could
Which of these about travelling in a car in Australia is correct?
Which of these about driving in Australia is correct?
What is the primary responsibility of the House of Representatives?
Who approves the appointment of government ministers?
What is the process called when the Governor-General signs a Bill into law?
What is the role of the Australian Electoral Commission?
What happens if the majority in each House of Parliament agrees to a Bill?
Who appoints the Governor-General?
Which portfolio area does NOT fall under government minister responsibility?
Who can become a member of Parliament at the federal level?
Which statement best describes the relationship between the Governor-General and political parties?
Who represents the King in the Northern Territory?
What penalty may apply if you do not vote in a compulsory federal election?
What is a portfolio in the context of Australian government?
How does Australian law ensure independence of the courts?
Which of these is a role of the Governor-General?
If a legal matter needs to be decided in Australia, who decides it?
Voting by secret ballot means
On 1 January 1901, the Australian colonies became
In Australia, the power to make and change laws belongs to
The King's powers are delegated to the Governor-General because
A role of the Governor-General is
Royal Assent is when
The leader of a local government is called
Another name for the Senate is
How many senators does each territory elect?
It is acceptable to offer a bribe to a police officer
In Australia, a good excuse for breaking a law is
Which level of government is responsible for local roads, footpaths and bridges?
Who can drive a car in Australia?
Who elects the Members of Parliament who represent each electorate?
Hard Questions
6How can the Australian Constitution be changed?
What does it mean that Australia is a constitutional monarchy?
What does the Cabinet consist of?
What is a key difference between states and territories regarding constitutional rights?
How are federal electorates distributed across states and territories?
What is the 'double majority' required to change the Australian Constitution by referendum?
Exam Tips
- 1.Know how the Constitution can be changed (referendum process)
- 2.Understand the hierarchy of courts in Australia
- 3.Remember that jury duty is a legal obligation for Australian citizens
- 4.Study the responsibilities that come with citizenship, not just the rights
Practice Government & Law Questions
Test your knowledge of government & law with our full practice test. Simulate the real exam experience.