Should Australia become a Republic?



Should Australia become a Republic?

On 1st January 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution came into effect, bringing together the six self-governing colonies and establishing a federal system of government. This federal system allows for Power to be divided between states and the federal government by the Australian constitution. It also allows for separation of powers between the legislature, executive and the judiciary. It must be noted that the constitution can only be amended by referendum. The High court has the role of reviewing the constitution when there is a dispute; this involves interpretation of the constitution by the judges of the high court. These high court decisions have led to an increase in power to the federal government. Another reason that the federal government now has more power than issued to it by the constitution is due of state to federal agreements on certain laws.

The constitution is the overruling law in Australia that was passed by the British in 1900 in a statute called the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK). This is the outline of the Commonwealth; setting out how the new federation would be established and the guidelines for the way Australians would shape their nation. The Constitution is also the outline for the lives of Australians, providing the authority for the powers by which our legislators make laws, our executive government implements them, and how our courts operate.

One essential specification of the Constitution is that of the division of powers. The Australian Constitution establishes how power is divided between the states and the federal governments. Division of power means that legislative, executive and Judiciary powers are divided between the states and the federal government.

Section 51 of the Australian Constitution establishes where the Commonwealth of Australia has jurisdiction; under the condition that States keep the same law making powers they had before federation unless these powers have been otherwise given to the federal government. Fundamentally, the Constitution presents four types of legislative power. Specific powers, exclusive powers, concurrent powers and residual powers.

The Australian Constitution establishes the Commonwealth of Australia in which “the legislative power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Federal Parliament” this means that the federal government has specific powers to make laws on particular issues.

Australia should become a Republic not a constitutional Monarchy but what is a republic? A nation, where the head of state is a citizen of that country and was chosen because of their efforts and achievements, is a republic. If the head of state was chosen because of their birthright, then the system of government would be called a monarchy. Australia is a monarchy and the Queen of England is our head of state. The Governor-General is the representative of the Queen in Australia and he or she is appointed by the Prime Minister.

Australia is a monarchy because it was colonized by the British in 1778. With them, they brought their lifestyles, culture and system of government. This type of government has remained up to ...