Constitution

Text of the Constitution

  • The Australian Constitution - A First Reading - John Kilcunnen’s annotated guide to the Constitution.

  • Overview of the Constitution, Chapter-by-Chapter

  • Full Text (Including Amendments) On One Page

    Chapter-by-Chapter

  • Preamble

    Chapter 1 - The Parliament - Sections 1-60

  • Part 1 - General - Sections 1-6
  • Part 2 - Senate - Sections 7-23
  • Part 3 - House of Representatives - Sections 24-40
  • Part 4 - Both Houses - Sections 41-50
  • Part 5 - Powers - Sections 51-60

  • Chapter 2 - The Executive Government - Sections 61-70
  • Chapter 3 - The Judicature - Sections 71-80
  • Chapter 4 - Finance and Trade - Sections 81-105
  • Chapter 5 - The States - Sections 106-120
  • Chapter 6 - New States - Sections 121-124
  • Chapter 7 - Miscellaneous - Section 125-127
  • Chapter 8 - Alteration of the Constitution - Section 128
  • Schedule - Oath and Affirmation

    Section-by-Section

    If you know the number of the Section of the Constitution you want to check, just click on the applicable link below. The text will appear in a popup window.

  • Section 1 - Legislative Power

  • Section 2 - Governor-General

  • Section 3 - Salary of Governor-General

  • Section 4 - Provisions relating to Governor-General

  • Section 5 - Sessions of Parliament - Prorogation and Dissolution

  • Section 6 - Summoning Parliament

  • Section 7 - The Senate

  • Section 8 - Qualifications of Electors

  • Section 9 - Method of election of senators

  • Section 10 - Application of State laws

  • Section 11 - Failure to choose senators

  • Section 12 - Issue of writs

  • Section 13 - Rotation of senators

  • Section 14 - Further provision for rotation

  • Section 15 - Casual vacancies

  • Section 16 - Qualifications of senator

  • Section 17 - Election of President

  • Section 18 - Absence of President

  • Section 19 - Resignation of senator

  • Section 20 - Vacancy by absence

  • Section 21 - Vacancy to be notified

  • Section 22 - Quorum

  • Section 23 - Voting in the Senate

  • Section 24 - Constitution of House of Representatives

  • Section 25 - Provisions as to races disqualified from voting

  • Section 26 - Representatives in first Parliament

  • Section 27 - Alteration of number of members

  • Section 28 - Duration of House of Representatives

  • Section 29 - Electoral divisions

  • Section 30 - Qualification of electors

  • Section 31 - Application of State laws

  • Section 32 - Writs for general election

  • Section 33 - Writs for vacancies

  • Section 34 - Qualifications of members

  • Section 35 - Election of Speaker

  • Section 36 - Absence of Speaker

  • Section 37 - Resignation of member

  • Section 38 - Vacancy by absence

  • Section 39 - Quorum

  • Section 40 - Voting in House of Representatives

  • Section 41 - Rights of electors of States

  • Section 42 - Oath or affirmation of allegiance

  • Section 43 - Member of one House ineligible for other

  • Section 44 - Disqualification

  • Section 45 - Vacancy on happening of disqualification

  • Section 46 - Penalty for sitting when disqualified

  • Section 47 - Disputed elections

  • Section 48 - Allowance to members

  • Section 49 - Privileges &c. of Houses

  • Section 50 - Rules and orders

  • Section 51 - Legislative powers of the Parliament

  • Section 52 - Exclusive powers of the Parliament

  • Section 53 - Powers of the Houses in respect of legislation

  • Section 54 - Appropriation Bills

  • Section 55 - Tax Bill

  • Section 56 - Recommendation of money votes

  • Section 57 - Disagreement between the Houses

  • Section 58 - Royal assent to Bills & Recommendations by Governor-General

  • Section 59 - Disallowance by the Queen

  • Section 60 - Signification of Queen’s pleasure on Bills reserved

  • Section 61 - Executive power

  • Section 62 - Federal Executive Council

  • Section 63 - Provisions referring to Governor-General

  • Section 64 - Ministers of State & Ministers to sit in Parliament

  • Section 65 - Number of ministers

  • Section 66 - Salaries of Ministers

  • Section 67 - Appointment of civil servants

  • Section 68 - Command of naval and military forces

  • Section 69 - Transfer of certain departments

  • Section 70 - Certain powers of Governors to vest in Governor-General

  • Section 71 - Judicial power and Courts

  • Section 72 - Judges’ appointment, tenure and remuneration

  • Section 73 - Appellate jurisdiction of High Court

  • Section 74 - Appeal to Queen in Council

  • Section 75 - Original jurisdiction of High Court

  • Section 76 - Additional original jurisdiction

  • Section 77 - Power to define jurisdiction

  • Section 78 - Proceedings against Commonwealth or State

  • Section 79 - Number of judges

  • Section 80 - Trial by jury

  • Section 81 - Consolidated Revenue Fund

  • Section 82 - Expenditure charged thereon

  • Section 83 - Money to be appropriated by law

  • Section 84 - Transfer of officers

  • Section 85 - Transfer of property of State

  • Section 86 - Collection and control of duties to pass to Commonwealth

  • Section 87 - Revenue to be paid to States in first ten years

  • Section 88 - Uniform duties of customs

  • Section 89 - Payment to States before uniform duties

  • Section 90 - Exclusive power over customs, excise, and bounties

  • Section 91 - Exceptions as to bounties

  • Section 92 - Trade within the Commonwealth to be free

  • Section 93 - Payment to States for five years after uniform tariffs

  • Section 94 - Distribution of surplus

  • Section 95 - Customs duties of Western Australia

  • Section 96 - Financial assistance to States

  • Section 97 - Audit

  • Section 98 - Trade and commerce includes navigation and State railways

  • Section 99 - Commonwealth not to give preference

  • Section 100 - Nor abridge right to use water

  • Section 101 - Inter-State Commission

  • Section 102 - Parliament may forbid preferences by State

  • Section 103 - Commissioners’ appointment, tenure, and remuneration

  • Section 104 - Saving of certain rates

  • Section 105 - Taking over public debts of States

  • Section 106 - Saving of Constitutions

  • Section 107 - Saving of Power of State Parliaments

  • Section 108 - Saving of State laws

  • Section 109 - Inconsistency of laws

  • Section 110 - Provisions referring to Governor

  • Section 111 - States may surrender territory

  • Section 112 - States may levy charges for inspection laws

  • Section 113 - Intoxicating liquids

  • Section 114 - States may not raise forces - Taxation of property of Commonwealth or State

  • Section 115 - States not to coin money

  • Section 116 - Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion

  • Section 117 - Rights of residents in States

  • Section 118 - Recognition of laws, &c. of States

  • Section 119 - Protection of States from invasion and violence

  • Section 120 - Custody of offenders against laws of the Commonwealth

  • Section 121 - New states may be admitted or established

  • Section 122 - Government of territories

  • Section 123 - Alteration of limits of States

  • Section 124 - Formation of new States

  • Section 125 - Seat of Government

  • Section 126 - Power to Her Majesty to authorise Governor-General to appoint deputies

  • Section 127 - Aboriginal natives not to be counted

  • Section 128 - Mode of altering the Constitution



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