Federation and the Constitution
The Constitution came into effect on 1 January 1901, when the colonies federated. It set up the Parliament and the High Court, and it can only be changed by a referendum passed with a double majority.
What to remember
- Before 1901 there were six separate British colonies, with costly trade, weak defence and hard cross-border law enforcement.
- The Constitution was passed as a British Act in 1900 and came into effect on 1 January 1901.
- It established the Parliament (House of Representatives and Senate) and the High Court.
- It can only be changed by referendum with a double majority. In 1967, more than 90% voted Yes to count Aboriginal peoples in the Census.
Sample questions
Before 1901, how was Australia organised?Show answer
- One single nation with a national parliament
- Six separate, self-governing British colonies
- Eight independent countries
Six separate, self-governing British colonies. After British settlement and before 1901, Australia was made up of six separate, self-governing British colonies, each with its own constitution and laws.
Which was a problem with the separate colonies before Federation?Show answer
- Trade and transport between colonies was expensive and slow
- The colonies had too strong a defence
- The colonies had no laws at all
Trade and transport between colonies was expensive and slow. Before Federation, trade and transport between the colonies was expensive and slow, enforcing the law across borders was difficult, and defence was weak.
On what date were the colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia?Show answer
- 1 January 1901
- 25 April 1915
- 26 January 1788
1 January 1901. On 1 January 1901, the colonies were united into a federation of states called the Commonwealth of Australia.
Source: Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, p. 25. Read the full booklet on the Home Affairs website.