Part 3 of Our Common Bond: government and the law

Everything on the test is in the free booklet, Our Common Bond. We help you practise reading the questions the way the test asks them. Part 3 is about nine pages, and it has the most names and numbers.

Having your say

Citizens aged 18 or over must enrol to vote. You cannot vote if you are not enrolled. Voting is compulsory. The Australian Electoral Commission runs federal elections and keeps the roll. It is independent of the government. The ballot is secret. If you do not vote and have no good reason, you may be fined. You can also write to your elected representative.

How the nation was built

Before 1901 there were six separate British colonies, each with its own laws. Trade and defence suffered. On 1 January 1901 they joined as the Commonwealth of Australia. The Constitution sets the basic rules. It started as a British Act in 1900.

The Constitution changes only by a referendum. A referendum needs a double majority: most voters across the nation, and most voters in most states.

Three powers

The Constitution splits power in three, so no one holds all of it.

• Legislative: Parliament makes laws.
• Executive: the Prime Minister, ministers and the Governor-General put laws into practice.
• Judicial: judges apply the law. Courts are independent.

Head of State and the Governor-General

Australia is a constitutional monarchy. The King is Head of State and acts in line with the Constitution. He does not live here and has no day-to-day role. The Governor-General represents him, acts independently of all parties, and signs Bills into law. This is called Royal Assent. Each state has a Governor in a similar role.

Parliament

Parliament has two Houses. The House of Representatives, also called the Lower House or the People's House, has over 150 members. The Senate has 76 senators. Each state elects 12. The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory elect two each.

The leader of the party or coalition with most seats in the House of Representatives becomes Prime Minister. The next largest party forms the Opposition. The top ministers make up the Cabinet.

Laws start as Bills

A proposed law is called a Bill. Both Houses debate and vote on it. If most members of each House agree, it goes to the Governor-General, who signs it.

Three levels of government

Each level has its own jobs. Learn the three lists as lists, because questions ask which level owns a job.

• Australian Government: tax, defence, immigration and citizenship, foreign affairs, social security, post and communications, trade, airports.
• State and territory governments: hospitals, schools, roads and railways, police and ambulance, public transport.
• Local councils: local roads and footpaths, parks, rubbish collection, libraries, building permits, animal control.

The leader of a state government is the Premier. In a territory, it is the Chief Minister. States have rights recognised by the Constitution. Territories do not.

Courts, police and crime

Courts and judges are independent. People are innocent until a court finds them guilty. A jury is a group of ordinary citizens chosen at random. The judge sets the penalty. States have their own police. The Australian Federal Police deal with federal crimes. Offering a bribe to a police officer is a crime. Not knowing a law is no excuse.

Where people slip

• House of Representatives against Senate, and the numbers for each.
• The three powers: who makes, who applies, who judges.
• Which level of government owns which job. Police: state. Immigration: federal.

Practise Part 3

Start the free mock

Last checked against Our Common Bond (2020): 22 October 2026

Questions people ask

How many senators are there?

There are 76. Each state elects 12 and each of the two territories elects two.

Who signs a Bill into law?

The Governor-General. This step is called Royal Assent.

What is a double majority?

It is what a referendum needs to change the Constitution: most voters across the nation, and most voters in most states.

Who is responsible for schools and hospitals?

State and territory governments. The Australian Government handles things like tax, defence and citizenship.