Constitution of Australia
Chapters of the Constitution
Chapter I: The Parliament Chapter II: The Executive Government Chapter III: The Judicature Chapter IV: Finance and Trade Chapter V: The States Chapter VI: New States Chapter VII: Miscellaneous Chapter VIII: Alteration of the Constitution
Text of the Constitution
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Chapter I of the Constitution of Australia establishes the Parliament of Australia and its role as the legislative branch of the Government of Australia.^[1] The chapter consists of 60 sections which are organised into 5 parts.

Part I: General

Part I contains 6 sections:

• Section 1: Legislative power
• Section 2: Governor-General
• Section 3: Salary of Governor-General
• Section 4: Provisions relating to Governor-General
• Section 5: Sessions of Parliament. Prorogation and dissolution
• Section 6: Yearly session of Parliament

Part II: The Senate

Part II contains 17 sections:

• Section 7: The Senate
• Section 8: Qualification of electors
• Section 9: Method of election of senators in the senate
• Section 10: Application of State laws
• Section 11: Failure to choose senators
• Section 12: Issue of writs
• Section 13: Rotation of senators
• Section 14: Further provision for rotation
• Section 15: Casual vacancies
• Section 16: Qualifications of senator
• Section 17: Election of President
• Section 18: Absence of President
• Section 19: Resignation of senator
• Section 20: Vacancy by absence
• Section 21: Vacancy to be notified
• Section 22: Quorum
• Section 23: Voting in the Senate

Part III: The House of Representatives

Part III contains 17 sections:

• Section 24: Constitution of House of Representatives in Australia
• Section 25: Provision as to races disqualified from voting
• Section 26: Representatives in first Parliament
• Section 27: Alteration of number of members
• Section 28: Duration of House of Representatives
• Section 29: Electoral divisions
• Section 30: Qualification of electors
• Section 31: Application of State laws
• Section 32: Writs for general election
• Section 33: Writs for vacancies
• Section 34: Qualifications of members
• Section 35: Election of Speaker
• Section 36: Absence of Speaker
• Section 37: Resignation of member
• Section 38: Vacancy by absence
• Section 39: Quorum
• Section 40: Voting in House of Representatives

Part IV: Both Houses of the Parliament

Part IV consists of 10 sections:

• Section 41: Right of electors of States
• Section 42: Oath or affirmation of allegiance
• Section 43: Member of one House ineligible for other
• Section 44: Disqualification
• Section 45: Vacancy on happening of disqualification
• Section 46: Penalty for sitting when disqualified
• Section 47: Disputed elections
• Section 48: Allowance to members
• Section 49: Privileges etc. of Houses
• Section 50: Rules and orders

Part V: Powers of the Parliament in Australia

Part V consists of 10 sections:

• Section 51: Legislative powers of the Parliament
• Section 52: Exclusive powers of the Parliament
• Section 53: Powers of the Houses in respect of legislation
• Section 54: Appropriation Bills
• Section 55: Tax Bill
• Section 56: Recommendation of money votes
• Section 57: Disagreement between the Houses
• Section 58: Royal assent to Bills
• Section 59: Disallowance by the Queen
• Section 60: Signification of Queen's pleasure on Bills reserved