Australia's Constitution: Our Democracy Rulebook

Year 5 Civics and Citizenship Understanding How Australia is Governed

What is a Constitution?

A constitution is a set of rules for a country It tells us how the government should work It protects people's rights and freedoms Every country needs rules to be fair and safe

What Rules Do We Follow?

Think about the rules at school What about rules at home? Why do we need rules? What happens without rules?

What is Australia's Constitution?

A special 'rule book' for our whole country Written in 1901 when Australia became a nation Sets out how our government works Protects our rights and freedoms Cannot be easily changed

Australia Becomes One Nation - 1901

How Our Government Works

{"left":"Parliament makes the laws\nPrime Minister leads the government\nJudges decide if laws are fair","right":"Governor-General represents the Queen\nCitizens vote for their representatives\nElections must be held regularly"}

Constitution Detective Work

Work in groups of 5 students Each group gets different Constitution facts Use your graphic organizer to record key information Find out: Who makes laws? How do we vote? What rights do we have? Prepare to share your discoveries!

Our Democratic Rights and Responsibilities

Right to vote in secret (no one can see your choice) Right to free speech and expression Right to fair treatment by the law Responsibility to follow Australian laws Responsibility to participate in democracy Responsibility to respect others' rights

Why Our Constitution Matters

The Constitution is the foundation of our democracy. It ensures that everyone is treated fairly and that our government serves the people of Australia.