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Difficulty: MediumThe Double Majority Requirement

A national referendum is held to change the Australian Constitution. The final tally shows that 49%49\% of all voters in Australia voted 'Yes'. At the same time, the 'Yes' vote achieved a majority in five out of the six states. According to the 'double majority' rule, what is the result of this referendum?

  1. A
    The proposed change is successful because a majority of voters in at least four states voted 'Yes'.
  2. The proposed change fails because a majority of all voters across Australia did not vote 'Yes'.Answer
  3. C
    The proposed change is successful because the high state support compensates for the national total being slightly below half.

Answer

The proposed change fails because the national majority requirement (more than 50%50\% of all voters) was not met.
The 'double majority' rule is a strict two-part requirement. Even though the proposal was supported by a majority of states (5 out of 6), it failed to gain the support of more than 50%50\% of voters across the whole of Australia (49%49\%). Because both requirements must be met for a change to occur, the proposal fails.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the national majority requirement.
The 'Yes' vote was 49%49\%, which is less than the required 50%50\% plus one vote.
The first part of the double majority rule requires a majority of all voters across the entire nation.
2
Evaluate the state majority requirement.
Five out of six states voted 'Yes', which exceeds the required minimum of four states.
The second part of the double majority rule requires a majority of voters in at least four out of the six states.
3
Determine the final outcome based on the double majority rule.
The referendum fails.
For a constitutional change to be successful, both the national majority AND the state majority must be achieved. Since the national majority failed, the proposal cannot pass.

Key Concept

The Double Majority Requirement

Hints

1
Remember that the word 'double' in 'double majority' means two specific conditions must be satisfied at the same time.
2
Check if the national 'Yes' vote reached more than 50%50\% and if at least four states reached a majority.

Practice More

Review how the votes of citizens living in territories (ACT and NT) are counted in a referendum compared to those living in the six states.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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The Double Majority Requirement

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