{ Adopted: 1900 / In Force Since: 1 Jan 1901 / Status: 1988 }
{ The Constitution was adopted as a schedule to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 63 & 64 Vict Chapter 12 of the year 1900. }
Section 1 [Federal Parliament]
The legislative power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a
Federal Parliament
, which shall consist of the Queen, a Senate,
and a House of Representatives, and which is hereinafter called
"The Parliament", or "The Parliament of the Commonwealth."
Section 2 [Governor-General]
A Governor-General appointed by the Queen shall be Her Majesty's
representative in the Commonwealth, and shall have and may
exercise in the Commonwealth during the Queen's pleasure, but
subject to this Constitution, such powers and functions of the
Queen as Her Majesty may be pleased to assign to him.
Section 3 [Governmental Remuneration]
There shall be payable to the Queen out of the Consolidated
Revenue Fund of the Commonwealth, for the salary of the
Governor-General, an annual sum which, until the Parliament
otherwise provides, shall be ten thousand pounds. The salary of a
Governor-General shall not be altered during his continuance in
office.
Section 4 [Other Offices]
The provisions of this Constitution relating to the
Governor-General extend and apply to the Governor-General for the
time being, or such person as the Queen may appoint to administer
the Government of the Commonwealth; but no such person shall be
entitled to receive any salary from the Commonwealth in respect of
any other office during his administration of the Government of
the Commonwealth.
Section 5 [Convening Parliament]
(1) The Governor-General may appoint such times for holding the
sessions of the Parliament as he thinks fit, and may also from
time to time, by Proclamation or otherwise, prorogue the
Parliament, and may in like manner dissolve the House of
Representatives.
(2) After any general election the Parliament shall be summoned
to meet not later than thirty days after the day appointed for the
return of the writs.
(3) The Parliament shall by summoned to meet not later than six
months after the establishment of the Commonwealth.
Section 6 [Minimal Sessions]
There shall be a session of the Parliament once at least in every
year, so that twelve months shall not intervene between the last
sitting of the Parliament in one session and its first sitting in
the next session.