Nationhood - Australian Constitution Centre

australianconstitutioncentre.org.au/nationhood.html

New citizens take the Australian Oath of Allegiance with Mayor. Source: City of Newcastle

PRINCIPLE 5: NATIONHOOD
​ ustralia became a
A
nation in 1901 when the
six separate, self-
governing colonies joined
in a federal union to
create the The Coat of Arms
Commonwealth of Source: High Court of
Australia. The Australia
Constitution summoned
the Australian nation into
existence and conferred
a new identity on the
people. Over time,
Nationhood has evolved
through implementation
of the Statute of Westminster and the Australian Act, giving us
independence from the United Kingdom.
Our nationhood is
​ hat is a nation?
W consolidated at times
A nation is defined by its system of government, its people of war. Group portrait
and by its geographical boundaries. Australia became a nation of World War I
in 1901 when the six separate, self-governing colonies joined soldiers in camp
in a federal union to create the Commonwealth of Australia. 1914. Source: State
Library of Victoria
The Constitution summoned the Australian nation into
existence Queen Elizabeth II
It conferred a new identity on the people, who agreed to unite
in “one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth”. Our nation is
identified through our national emblems, such as the coat of
arms, the Australian flag, the national anthem and our capital
city Canberra.

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How does the Constitution contribute to our nationhood?
The people who wrote our Constitution knew that our nation
would change. So, they gave the people the power to alter the
Constitution through referendums. Over time, our nationhood
has been consolidated in war, through immigration, economic
development and the unifying influence of federal law.

How has our nation evolved?

Our Nationhood evolved in stages with the passage of
the Statute of Westminster Act and the Australia Act which
gave us independence from the United Kingdom.

​ ationhood includes the expansion of Federal power

N
Commonwealth power has grown to cover things which were
never thought about before Federation. By using the external
affairs powers and corporations powers in section 51, the
Parliament can legislate for things never contemplated by
those who wrote the Constitution.

Click here to download a PDF of Principle 5: Nationhood in

detail

Click here to read about the Nationhood High Court Case -

The Constitution saves the Franklin River

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