Miss Singh Year 7 HASS: Civics and Citizenship

NAME: __________________

Fill in the gaps using the word bank on page 3.

Changing the Constitution: Referendums

The Australian ________________ can be changed to meet the changing needs or values
of the community, but it is a complicated process and does not happen very often. To
change the Constitution, the ___________ government must call a ________________.

The word referendum is Latin and means ‘something referred’, usually to the people. A
referendum is a ______ by eligible voters on a question. In ____________, referendums
may be held at state and federal levels. The Australian Constitution can only be changed by
referendum according to the rules set out in section ____ of the Constitution. If a _________
of people in a majority of _________, and a majority of people across the ________ as a
whole, vote ‘yes’, then that part of the Constitution can be changed. This is known as a
_________ majority.

A double majority

A majority is more than ______ the total number. Exactly half, or 50 per cent, is not enough;
at least one more is needed. To change Australia’s Constitution a double majority is needed.
This means that two things need to happen:

 the total ‘yes’ vote across Australia needs to be more than 50 per cent

 there has to be a majority of ‘____’ votes in more than half of the states. This means
at least _____ states have to vote ‘yes’.

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Miss Singh Year 7 HASS: Civics and Citizenship

Section 128 Mode of altering the Constitution

This Constitution shall not be altered except in the following manner:-

The __________ law for the alteration of the Constitution must be passed by an
absolute majority of each House of the ________________.

The proposed _____ must be put to a vote of electors between two and six months
later.

If there are disagreements between the upper and lower house which cannot be
resolved by amendments to the proposed law the governor-general can take charge
and present the last version of the proposed law to the electors.

If in a majority of the states a majority of the electors voting approve the proposed
law, and if a majority overall of all the electors voting also approve the proposed law,
it shall be presented to the governor-general for the Queen’s assent.

No __________ to the Constitution, without a double majority.

Referendums in Australia

The ______ referendum was held in 1906 and Australia has since held another 43
referendums. Of these questions about changing the Australian Constitution put to
the Australian people, only ______ changes have ever been agreed to.

Some of the successful referendums have included:

 the 1946 referendum. This allowed the Commonwealth to provide social

service benefits to returned service men and women.
 the 1967 referendum. This gave the Commonwealth the power to make
special laws for Indigenous Australians.

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 Miss Singh Year 7 HASS: Civics and Citizenship

Some of the unsuccessful referendums have included:

 the 1951 referendum. This was about making laws to do with communism and
communists.
 the 1999 referendum. This asked the Australian people if they wanted
Australia to become a republic.

A referendum can also be held on issues other than changing the Constitution. This
is known as a plebiscite. ____________ are often used to test public opinions on
government ideas or actions. They do not have any ________ force, unlike
referendums.

Use the word bank below to fill in the gaps above.

Word Bank:

Australia Federal States

Majority First Eight

Changes Nation Yes

Double Parliament Law

Proposed Referendum Four

Vote Half Plebiscite

Constitution 128 Legal