Question

Difficulty: EasyChanging the Constitution: Referendums

The Australian Constitution is the supreme law of the nation and cannot be changed by the Parliament alone. When a proposal to change the Constitution is made, it must be put to a vote of the people in a referendum. According to Australian law, who is required to vote in a referendum?

  1. All eligible Australian citizens on the electoral rollAnswer
  2. B
    Only the members of the Federal and State Parliaments
  3. C
    Only citizens who volunteer to participate in the vote

Answer

All eligible Australian citizens on the electoral roll must vote in a referendum.
The correct answer is correct because the Australian Constitution can only be changed if the people approve the change through a referendum, and participation in this vote is compulsory for all eligible Australian citizens on the electoral roll.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the purpose of the vote
The vote is a referendum to change the Australian Constitution.
The Constitution is the supreme law and requires a special process for any changes.
2
Determine the legal requirement for voting in Australia
Voting is compulsory for eligible citizens.
Under Australian law, eligible citizens on the electoral roll are required by law to vote in both elections and referendums.

Key Concept

Compulsory voting in referendums

Hints

1
Think about whether voting in Australian federal elections is optional or mandatory.
2
The Constitution is the highest law, so the decision to change it involves the entire voting population, not just politicians.

Practice More

Review the 'double majority' requirement to understand how those votes are counted to pass a referendum.
Estimated Time:45s
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