The Constitution

Essay Questions

1. 'Since 1901, the Commonwealth Government has increased its dominance over the States in a variety of ways. As a result, Commonwealth-State relations have worsened.' To what extent do you agree? (2002)

2. 'The Australian Constitution remains largely unaltered and therefore is in need of significant change.' To what extent do you agree? (2002)

3. "The High Court has assumed a more political role than was intended by the Constitution." To what extent do you agree? (2001)

4. "The Governor-General has little importance or influence on Australian politics, and therefore there is no need for the position of head of state." To what extent do you agree? (2001)

5. "The Australian Constitution serves many purposes but its most important purpose is to distribute power within the Australian political system." Discuss. (2000)

6. "Commonwealth-State relations involve a great deal more conflict than cooperation. This is especially true of their financial relations." To what extent do you agree? (2000)

7. "Because Australia has a stable political system, there is no need to reform the many political institutions established by its Constitution." To what extent do you agree? (1999)

8. "Since 1901 the Commonwealth Government has, for a variety of reasons, found it very difficult to increase its powers by referendum. However, it has increased its powers by other means." Discuss both parts of this statement. (1999)

9. "One of the major problems of the Australian Constitution is that it relies too heavily on conventions or unwritten rules for its operation." To what extent do you agree? (1998)

10. "The Australian Constitution has many strengths. It has served this nation very well." To what extent do you agree or disagree with this proposition? (1998)

11. "The Constitution, and interpretations of the Constituion by the High Court, have allowed the Commonwelath Government to dominate the State Governments." (1997)

12. "The Australian Constitution encourages conflict and discourages consensus." To what extent do you agree? (1997)

13. Discuss the reasons for the relative difficulty encountered in changing the Australian Constitution.

14. "The Australian Constitution is a mixture of prescription and vagueness. It needs to be clarified as a matter of urgency." Discuss.

15. "Whilst the Australian Constitution has not been changed significantly at referendums, it has been substantially modified by judicial interpretation. This is the way it should be." Discuss.

16. "Loopholes in the Australian Constitution have enabled the Commonwealth Government to assume significantly more financial power than it was ever intended to have." Discuss.

17. "In moving towards a republic, Australia needs to take care that it does not inadvertently implement fundamental changes to the political system." Discuss.

18. "Despite its inadequacies the Australian constitution works remarkably well." (1991)

19. "The federal system is not efficient, but it is effective in meeting the needs of the Australian people." Discuss. (1991)

20. "Judgements of the High Court have increased the power of the Commonwealth parliament far beyond that which was envisaged in 1901." Discuss. (1990)

21. "The failure of the Constitutional Commission suggests that significant constitutional reform in unlikely." Discuss. (1990)

22. "The main problem with Australia's constitution is that many of its key sections are unclear." Discuss. (1989)

23. "The major cause of tension in the Australian federal system is that the Commonwealth government has financial but not political dominance over the states." Discuss. (1989)

24. "The Constitution of a country is like a human constitution. If it is working well you do not give it a thought. You start thinking about it only when it goes wrong." Discuss in relation to the Australian Constitution. (1987)

25. "Recent conflicts between the Federal and some State governments illustrate that there are policy areas in which it is preferable for the Federal Government to have total control." To what extent do you agree? (1987)

26. "The significant increase in the power of the Commonwealth government since 1901 indicates that the Australian federal system has become obsolete." Discuss. (1986)

27. How important are conventions (unwritten rules) in the operation of the constitutional system of government in Australia? (1986)

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