The Australian Constitution

The Australian Constitution is the nation's founding legal document. It came into effect on 1 January 1901, when the six British colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia in an event known as Federation. The citizenship test includes questions about the Constitution, its purpose, and how it can be changed.

The Constitution establishes the structure of the federal government, defines the powers of parliament, the executive, and the judiciary, and sets out the relationship between the federal and state governments. It also includes certain protections for citizens, such as freedom of religion (Section 116) and the right to trial by jury for federal offences (Section 80).

One of the most important things to know about the Constitution is how it can be changed. Any change to the Constitution requires a referendum — a national vote by all Australian citizens. For a referendum to succeed, it must achieve a "double majority": a majority of voters nationally AND a majority of voters in at least four of the six states. This high bar ensures that constitutional changes have broad support across the nation. Since 1901, only 8 of 44 referendums have been successful.