Approval of both houses and double majority

Process of changing the constitution

Can only be changed through a referendum, and is set out in three stages according to section 128. They are:

• the parliament

• the people

• the governor general

The parliament

• a bill is prepared to set out the proposed alteration to the constitution

• the bill must be passed by an absolute majority (over 50% of both houses)

• the proposal must be submitted to voters between 2-6months of the bill passing through parliament

• if a house rejects a bill, the other house must wait 3months until they are able to pass it again

The people

Once the proposal is agreed to in the Commonwealth Parliament, the referendum process occurs, which is a compulsory vote on a proposed change to the wording of the Australian Constitution

• The electoral committee sends info to every household

double majority

a voting system that required a national majority of all voters in australia and a majority of electors in a majority of states to vote in favour of a proposal.

The governor general

if the proposed change recevies a yes vote from a majority of voters in a majority of the states, as well as a majority of electors, it is then presented to them for royal assent.

strengths of referendums

• voters are directly involved in Australia’s process of constitutional amendment

• the yes or no format is easy to understand, increasing accessibility, and more accurately reflecting the views of Australians.

• double majority protects states that have a smaller population

limitations of referendums

• extremely expensive

• difficult to be successful due to double majority

• compulsory voting may cause votes that are random and don’t reflect actual views

• they are time consuming