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Australian Citizenship Test

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Australian Citizenship Test questions and answers

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  1. 151.How can the Australian people change the Constitution?

    • ABy voting in a referendum
    • BBy a majority vote in the Senate
    • CBy petitioning the Governor-General
    • DBy a decision of the High Court

    The Australian people can change the Australian Constitution by voting in a referendum. (The Australian Constitution)

  2. 152.What is required for a referendum to change the Constitution?

    • AA simple national majority
    • BUnanimous agreement of the states
    • CA double majority
    • DA two-thirds majority in parliament

    A double majority means a majority of voters in a majority of states and a majority of voters across the nation. (The Australian Constitution)

  3. 153.What does a ‘double majority’ mean?

    • AA majority of members in both Houses of Parliament
    • BA majority of voters in a majority of states, and a majority across the nation
    • CA majority won in two consecutive referendums
    • DA majority of voters in every state of the federation

    A double majority means a majority of voters in a majority of states and a majority of voters across the nation. (The Australian Constitution)

  4. 154.What did more than 90 per cent of Australians vote ‘Yes’ to in 1967?

    • AAdopting a new national anthem
    • BEnding the transportation of convicts
    • CMaking voting compulsory
    • DAllowing Aboriginal peoples to be counted in the Census

    In the 1967 Referendum more than 90 per cent of Australians voted 'Yes' to allow Aboriginal peoples to be counted in the Census. (The Australian Constitution)

  5. 155.Into which three powers does the Constitution divide the power of government?

    • ALegislative, executive and judicial
    • BCommons, Senate and Cabinet
    • CFederal, state and local
    • DParliament, monarch and people

    The Australian Constitution divides the power of government between legislative, executive and judicial powers. (How the power of government is controlled)

  6. 156.Why is the power of government divided?

    • ATo give the states more power than the Commonwealth
    • BTo stop one person, or one group, from holding all the power
    • CTo reduce the cost of government
    • DTo allow the Governor-General to rule alone

    The division of power stops one person, or one group, from holding all the power. (How the power of government is controlled)

  7. 157.What is legislative power?

    • AThe power to put laws into practice
    • BThe power to dissolve parliament
    • CThe power to interpret laws
    • DThe power to make laws

    Legislative power is the power to make laws and belongs to Parliament. (How the power of government is controlled)

  8. 158.What is executive power?

    • AThe power to make laws
    • BThe power to change the Constitution
    • CThe power to put the laws into practice
    • DThe power to interpret and apply the law

    Executive power is the power to put the laws into practice. (How the power of government is controlled)

  9. 159.Who holds judicial power in Australia?

    • AThe Prime Minister and Cabinet
    • BJudges
    • CThe Parliament
    • DThe Governor-General

    Judges have the power to interpret and apply the law. (How the power of government is controlled)

  10. 160.How independent are Australia’s courts and judges?

    • AThey are appointed by the Senate
    • BThey are independent of parliament and government
    • CThey are directed by the Prime Minister
    • DThey report to the Attorney-General

    Courts and judges are independent of parliament and government. (How the power of government is controlled)

  11. 161.Who is Australia’s Head of State?

    • AThe Governor-General
    • BThe Prime Minister
    • CThe Chief Justice of the High Court
    • DThe King of Australia

    Australia's Head of State is the King of Australia, His Majesty King Charles III. (The Head of State and constitutional monarchy)

  12. 162.Who appoints the Governor-General?

    • AThe King of Australia, on the advice of the Prime Minister
    • BThe Australian Parliament, by a vote of both Houses
    • CThe High Court of Australia, on the Chief Justice’s advice
    • DThe governors of the six states, acting jointly

    The King of Australia appoints the Governor-General as his representative in Australia, on advice from the Australian Prime Minister. (The Head of State and constitutional monarchy)

  13. 163.How does the Governor-General act in relation to political parties?

    • AOn instructions from the Senate
    • BAs leader of the governing party
    • CIndependently of all political parties
    • DAs a member of Cabinet

    The Governor-General acts independently of all political parties. (The Head of State and constitutional monarchy)

  14. 164.What does it mean that Australia is a constitutional monarchy?

    • AParliament is appointed by the King rather than elected
    • BThe Constitution may be altered by the King at will
    • CThe King is Head of State but must act in accordance with the Constitution
    • DThe King rules Australia directly from the United Kingdom

    Australia is a constitutional monarchy, which means the King is Head of State but has to act in accordance with the Constitution. (The Head of State and constitutional monarchy)

  15. 165.Why are the King’s powers delegated to the Governor-General?

    • ABecause the Constitution forbids the King from acting
    • BBecause the King does not live in Australia
    • CBecause parliament voted to remove his powers
    • DBecause the High Court ruled it necessary

    Because the King does not live in Australia, his powers are delegated to the Governor-General. (The Head of State and constitutional monarchy)

  16. 166.Who represents the King in each Australian state?

    • AA Chief Minister
    • BA Premier
    • CAn Administrator
    • DA governor

    In each of the states there is a governor who represents the King. (The Head of State and constitutional monarchy)

  17. 167.Who is the leader of the Australian Government?

    • AThe King of Australia
    • BThe Prime Minister
    • CThe Leader of the Opposition
    • DThe Governor-General

    The leader of the Australian Government is the Prime Minister. (The Head of State and constitutional monarchy)

  18. 168.What is it called when the Governor-General signs a Bill into law?

    • AA double dissolution
    • BRoyal Prerogative
    • CA reserve power
    • DRoyal Assent

    The Governor-General signs all Bills passed by the Australian Parliament into law, which is called Royal Assent. (The role of the Governor-General)

  19. 169.Which of these is a role of the Governor-General?

    • AActing as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force
    • BInterpreting the Australian Constitution
    • CLeading the governing party in parliament
    • DSetting income tax rates

    The Governor-General acts as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force. (The role of the Governor-General)

  20. 170.What must the Governor-General remain?

    • AAnswerable to the Senate
    • BThe leader of the Opposition
    • CA member of the governing party
    • DNeutral

    The Governor-General is not part of the government and must remain neutral. (The role of the Governor-General)

  21. 171.Who starts the process for a federal election?

    • AThe Governor-General
    • BThe High Court
    • CThe Australian Electoral Commission
    • DThe Prime Minister

    The Governor-General is not part of the government and must remain neutral. (The role of the Governor-General)

  22. 172.What are the Governor-General’s ‘reserve powers’?

    • APowers to appoint the Prime Minister at will
    • BPowers to make laws without parliament
    • CSpecial powers that can only be used in specific circumstances
    • DPowers to change the Constitution

    The Governor-General has special powers known as 'reserve powers' that can only be used in specific circumstances. (The role of the Governor-General)

  23. 173.Whose appointments does the Governor-General approve?

    • AOnly the Prime Minister
    • BOnly state governors
    • CMembers of the Australian Electoral Commission
    • DThe government, its ministers, federal judges and other officials

    The Governor-General approves the appointment of the Australian Government and its ministers, federal judges and other officials. (The role of the Governor-General)

  24. 174.Who leads a state government in Australia?

    • AThe Premier
    • BThe Governor
    • CThe Chief Minister
    • DThe Mayor

    The Prime Minister is the leader of the Australian Government. (Australia’s leaders)

  25. 175.Who leads a territory government in Australia?

    • AThe Chief Minister
    • BThe Governor
    • CThe Premier
    • DThe Administrator

    The Prime Minister is the leader of the Australian Government. (Australia’s leaders)

  26. 176.Who leads a local government in Australia?

    • AA Councillor elected to serve on the local council
    • BThe Mayor or Shire President
    • CThe Premier, who leads the government of a state
    • DThe Chief Minister, who leads a territory government

    A Mayor or Shire President is the leader of a local government. (Australia’s leaders)

  27. 177.What is a Senator?

    • AAn adviser appointed to assist the Governor-General
    • BAn elected member of a local council, shire or municipality
    • CA judge appointed to sit on the High Court of Australia
    • DAn elected representative of a state or territory in the Australian Parliament

    A Senator is an elected representative of a state or territory in the Australian Parliament. (Australia’s leaders)

  28. 178.What is an elected member of a local council called?

    • AA Councillor
    • BA Minister
    • CA Shire President
    • DA Senator

    A Councillor is an elected member of a local council. (Australia’s leaders)

  29. 179.What is a government minister?

    • AAn elected member of a local council or shire
    • BA Member of Parliament responsible for an area of government
    • CA public servant appointed to head a department
    • DAn adviser appointed by the King of Australia

    A government minister is a Member of Parliament chosen by a government leader to be responsible for an area of government. (Australia’s leaders)

  30. 180.What are the other names for the House of Representatives?

    • AThe Upper House or the States’ House
    • BThe House of Review or the Senate
    • CThe Lower House or the People’s House
    • DThe Cabinet or the Executive

    The House of Representatives is also called the Lower House or the People's House. (The House of Representatives)

  31. 181.How many members are elected to the House of Representatives?

    • AOver 300
    • BExactly 76
    • COver 150
    • DExactly 12

    There are over 150 members elected to the House of Representatives. (The House of Representatives)

  32. 182.What determines the number of MPs for each state and territory?

    • AThe number of people in that state or territory
    • BAn equal number for every state
    • CThe number of local councils
    • DThe land area of the state or territory

    The number of MPs for each state and territory is based on the number of people in that state or territory. (The House of Representatives)

  33. 183.What does an MP represent?

    • AA political party only
    • BThe people in their electorate
    • CA local council area
    • DA whole state or territory

    Australia is divided into federal electorates, and Members of Parliament represent the people in their electorate. (The House of Representatives)

  34. 184.What is the role of the House of Representatives?

    • ATo collect taxes on behalf of the Commonwealth
    • BTo consider, debate and vote on proposals for new laws
    • CTo appoint the Governor-General and the state governors
    • DTo interpret the Australian Constitution and apply it

    The role of the House of Representatives is to consider, debate and vote on proposals for new laws or changes to the laws, and to discuss matters of national importance. (The House of Representatives)

  35. 185.What are the other names for the Senate?

    • AThe Lower House, or the People’s House
    • BThe Cabinet, or the Executive of the government
    • CThe House of Commons, or the House of Lords
    • DThe Upper House, the House of Review or the States’ House

    The Senate is sometimes called the Upper House, the House of Review or the States' House. (The Senate)

  36. 186.How many senators are there in the Australian Parliament?

    • A12
    • B150
    • C96
    • D76

    There is a total of 76 senators. (The Senate)

  37. 187.How many senators does each state elect?

    • A76
    • B6
    • C12
    • D2

    Each state elects 12 senators. (The Senate)

  38. 188.How many senators do the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory each elect?

    • ANone
    • BTwelve
    • CTwo
    • DSix

    The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory elect two senators each. (The Senate)

  39. 189.How are the states represented in the Senate?

    • AAll states are equally represented regardless of size or population
    • BIn proportion to the population of each state
    • COnly the four largest states send senators
    • DIn proportion to the land area of each state

    All states are equally represented in the Senate regardless of their size or population. (The Senate)

  40. 190.What does each Australian state government have of its own?

    • AIts own High Court
    • BIts own parliament and constitution
    • CIts own head of state
    • DIts own currency and defence force

    Each state government has its own parliament and constitution. (State, territory and local government)

  41. 191.Who is appointed by the Governor-General in the Northern Territory?

    • AAn Administrator
    • BA Chief Justice
    • CA Governor
    • DA Premier

    In the Northern Territory an Administrator is appointed by the Governor-General. (State, territory and local government)

  42. 192.What is the difference between the states and the territories?

    • AStates are governed directly by the Commonwealth
    • BStates have rights recognised by the Constitution while territories do not
    • CTerritories elect more senators than the states do
    • DTerritories hold more power to pass laws than states

    States have rights recognised by the Constitution while territories do not. (State, territory and local government)

  43. 193.What can happen to a self-governing territory’s laws?

    • AThey can be changed only by a national referendum
    • BThey cannot be changed at all once they are passed
    • CThey can be changed only by the High Court of Australia
    • DThey can be altered or revoked by the Australian Government at any time

    Self-governing territory laws can be altered or revoked by the Australian Government at any time. (State, territory and local government)

  44. 194.What might a local government area be called?

    • AA state or territory
    • BAn electorate or a division
    • CA city, shire, town or municipality
    • DA ward or a riding

    In each state a Governor represents the King of Australia. (State, territory and local government)

  45. 195.What are local councils responsible for?

    • APlanning and delivering services to their local community
    • BDefence, foreign affairs and national economic policy
    • CHospitals, health services and government schools
    • DImmigration, citizenship and the granting of visas

    Councils are responsible for planning and delivering services to their local community. (State, territory and local government)

  46. 196.Which level of government is responsible for immigration and citizenship?

    • ALocal governments
    • BThe Australian Government
    • CThe High Court
    • DState and territory governments

    The Australian Government is responsible for taxation and national economic management. (What the three levels of government do)

  47. 197.Which level of government is responsible for defence?

    • ALocal governments
    • BThe Governor-General
    • CThe Australian Government
    • DState and territory governments

    The Australian Government is responsible for taxation and national economic management. (What the three levels of government do)

  48. 198.Which level of government is responsible for schools?

    • ASchool boards alone
    • BThe Australian Government
    • CState and territory governments
    • DLocal governments

    State and territory governments are primarily responsible for hospitals and health services. (What the three levels of government do)

  49. 199.Which level of government is responsible for hospitals and health services?

    • APrivate providers alone
    • BLocal governments
    • CThe Australian Government
    • DState and territory governments

    State and territory governments are primarily responsible for hospitals and health services. (What the three levels of government do)

  50. 200.Which level of government is responsible for police and ambulance services?

    • AThe Australian Government
    • BThe Australian Federal Police alone
    • CState and territory governments
    • DLocal governments

    State and territory governments are primarily responsible for hospitals and health services. (What the three levels of government do)

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