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Difficulty: MediumChanging the Constitution: Referendums

The Australian Constitution is the supreme law of the country and can only be changed if the Australian people agree. For a proposed change to be successful, what specific voting result must be achieved in a referendum?

  1. A majority of voters in a majority of states, as well as a majority of voters across the whole of Australia.Answer
  2. B
    A simple national majority of more than 50% of all voters across Australia, regardless of which state they live in.
  3. C
    A majority vote from the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, followed by the King's approval.

Answer

The correct answer is that a proposed change must receive a majority of 'yes' votes in a majority of states (at least four out of six) and a majority of 'yes' votes nationally.
The correct answer accurately describes the 'double majority' rule required by Section 128 of the Australian Constitution. This means a referendum only passes if it receives a 'yes' vote from a majority of voters across Australia (including territories) and a majority of voters in at least four of the six states.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the requirement for changing the Constitution.
The Constitution can only be changed via a referendum, which is a vote by all eligible citizens.
This ensures the fundamental law cannot be changed by the government alone.
2
Determine the specific voting threshold needed for success.
The result must satisfy the 'double majority' rule.
This is a safeguard to protect the interests of both the national population and the individual states.
3
Define the components of the 'double majority'.
It requires a 'yes' vote from more than 50% of voters nationally AND more than 50% of voters in at least 4 out of the 6 states.
This prevents the most populous states from unfairly dominating the constitutional change process.

Key Concept

The Double Majority Requirement for Referendums

Hints

1
Think about the 'double' in 'double majority'. It means two different types of majorities must be met.
2
One majority is based on the total number of people in Australia, and the other is based on the states.
3
For a referendum to pass, more than half of all Australians must vote 'yes', and voters in at least four out of the six states must also provide a majority of 'yes' votes.

Practice More

Review the roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the law-making process to distinguish it from constitutional changes.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Changing the Constitution: Referendums

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