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Question

Difficulty: HardThe Australian Constitution

The Australian Constitution is the supreme law that defines how the nation is governed and establishes the 'separation of powers' between different branches of government. According to the Constitution, which of the following correctly identifies the three components that make up the Parliament of the Commonwealth?

  1. The King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of RepresentativesAnswer
  2. B
    The Prime Minister, the Federal Cabinet, and the House of Representatives
  3. C
    The Governor-General, the High Court of Australia, and the State Premiers

Answer

The Parliament of the Commonwealth consists of the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
The correct answer identifies the three essential elements defined in the Australian Constitution as forming the Parliament: the Monarch (represented by the Governor-General), the Upper House (the Senate), and the Lower House (the House of Representatives). This structure is fundamental to the Westminster-style democracy established at Federation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary source of authority for the structure of the Australian government.
The Australian Constitution, which came into effect on 1 January 1901.
The Constitution is the supreme law that explicitly defines the components of the Federal Parliament.
2
Distinguish between the 'Government' and the 'Parliament'.
The Government is the executive body (PM and Ministers), while the Parliament is the legislative body.
Many students incorrectly assume the Prime Minister or Cabinet are formal components of the Parliament's structure.
3
Recall the specific constitutional requirement for the composition of the Federal Parliament.
The Parliament must include the Monarch (or their representative) and two houses.
This 'Crown in Parliament' model is a fundamental feature of the Australian constitutional system.

Key Concept

The Composition of the Federal Parliament

Hints

1
Think about the 'Crown' and how it is represented in Australia's democratic system.
2
The Federal Parliament must have a representative of the Monarch plus two separate houses of elected representatives.
3
The correct answer includes the Governor-General, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.

Practice More

Review the specific roles of the Senate and the House of Representatives as defined by the Constitution.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

The Australian Constitution

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