Learn about the Australian Constitution(suggested time for activities 1-3 is 1 hour 30 minutes) Show
Watch an introductory video The Australian Way Movie by the Constitution Education Fund Australia (5 minutes 40 seconds). Activity 1—What do you know about the Australia Constitution? (suggested time 10 minutes). Test your current knowledge with this Australian Constitution quiz available through the Parliamentary Education Office. This quiz can also be completed through Kahoot! Keep a record of how you went as this quiz will be done again at the end of this section of the convention. Learn about the Australian Constitution(suggested time for activities 1-3 is 1 hour 30 minutes) Activity 2—Build your knowledge (suggested time 40 minutes).
Optional Extension—In-depth video Gist of it: the Constitution (15 minutes) by Liberty Victoria in association with Amnesty Foundation and Australian Lawyers Alliance. Learn about the Australian Constitution(suggested time for activities 1-3 is 1 hour 30 minutes) Activity 3—Australian Constitution (suggested time 30 minutes).
Case study on the Australian Constitution(suggested time for activities 4 and 5 is 1 hour 30 minutes) Activity 4—Tasmanian Dam case (suggested time 30 minutes). In 1983, the High Court of Australia decided that the Commonwealth had the power under section 51 (xxix) (i.e. the external affairs power) of the Australian Constitution to stop the construction a hydro-electric dam on the Franklin River in South-West Tasmania based on Australia’s international obligations under the World Heritage Convention.
Case study on the Australian Constitution(suggested time for activities 4 and 5 is 1 hour 30 minutes) Activity 5—Roleplay the making of the Commonwealth law that was passed in the Tasmanian Dam case (suggested time 1 hour).
Reforming the Australian Constitution(suggested time for activity 6 is 1 hour) Activity 6—Exploring proposed constitutional changes.
Option for a whole of year 7 group (multiple classes)—Divide students into individual state groups, divide into various group sizes as a percentage of students in similar proportions to the voting population of Australia—NSW (approximately 32% of students), Victoria (approximately 26% of students), Queensland (approximately 20% of students), WA (approximately 10% of students), SA (approximately 7% of students), Tasmania, ACT and NT (remainder of students, split evenly with a minimum of 2 students for each one).
Optional Extension—Compile YES/NO cases into an information booklet for distribution to student voters before a referendum is conducted. Possible topics for proposed Constitutional changesA range of topics with a short introductory video to provide context to the issue are provided below. Students will need to conduct further research into the YES and NO cases for their chosen topic to get a deeper understanding of the proposed change before proceeding to a vote on the issue. Note: Teacher and/or students can select a topic outside of these suggestions to suit the course of study being undertaken. Australia should become a republic Republic (ABC 3 minutes 35 seconds)—Proposed question: To alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic by replacing the Queen and the Governor-General with a President. Indigenous issues
Section 44: Citizenship of elected representatives Dual Citizenship (ABC 4 minutes and 15 seconds)—Proposed question: To alter the Constitution to amend section 44 to allow dual citizens to be members of the Commonwealth parliament. Section 7 & 28: Terms of parliament Parliamentary terms (ABC 3 minutes and 56 seconds)—Proposed question: To alter the Constitution to provide for 4 year maximum terms for members of both houses of parliament. Conducting a referendum(suggested time for activity 7 is 1 hour) Activity 7—Changing the Australia Constitution by referendum.
(Option for the whole of year 7 group (multiple classes)—Count and record each state/territory group individually—NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, ACT and NT).
Reflection(suggested time for activity 8 is 15 minutes) Activity 8—Constitutional change.
What changes have been made to the Constitution?A constitutional amendment to permit students to pray in school; an amendment to guarantee women equal rights; an amendment to prohibit abortion; an amendment to define marriage; an amendment to make the District of Columbia a state: these are just a few of the more than eleven thousand proposed amendments formally ...
What is constitutional change in Australia?The Australian Constitution can only be altered by referendum. In a referendum, all Australians of voting age vote yes or no for the proposed changes. To succeed, a majority of voters nationwide and a majority of States (four out of six) must approve the changes.
How many changes were there to the Constitution?Since 1789 the Constitution has been amended 27 times; of those amendments, the first 10 are collectively known as the Bill of Rights and were certified on December 15, 1791.
How many times has the Constitution changed in Australia?Over the years, only eight amendments have been made: single changes in 1906, 1910, 1928, 1946 and 1967; and three changes in 1977.
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