The Foundation for National Renewal
  Working for a better Australia through constitutional reform

The Model Constitution Project:

 PDF Download
 of the entire First Draft

 After a decade of work, this project has borne fruit: the First Draft of a new Constitution.

THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION

THE PREAMBLE

PART ONE

Chapter 1. Basic Concepts

Definitions
    Australia
    Australian Citizens
    Australian Sovereignty
Power and Authority
Citizen Initiated Referenda
The Basic Laws of Society 
National Symbols
Language

PART TWO: THE PEOPLE

Chapter 2: General

Chapter 3. Rights and Responsibilities

General
Rights 
Social Goals 
Aborigines & Torres Strait Islanders
Responsibilities

PART THREE: GOVERNANCE

Chapter 4. General

Chapter 5. The Structure of Government

General
National
The Regions

Chapter 6. Reserved

Chapter 7. Referenda and Plebiscites

General

Chapter 8. Ombudsmen

General

Chapter 9. Elections

The Australian Electoral Commission
Presidential Elections
Parliamentary and Regional Assembly Elections
Staggered Elections
Voting
System of Voting
Recall
Casual Vacancies
Disputed Elections

Chapter 10. The President

Role
Functions of the President
Powers of the President
Election of the President
Inauguration of the President
Dismissal of the President
The President’s Consort 

Chapter 11. The Vice President

Chapter 12. The National Parliament

General
Election of the National Parliament
Dismissal of Members of Parliament
Parliamentary Procedures 
National Legislation
Citizen Initiated Referenda 
Signing Legislation into Law

Chapter 13. The National Executive

General
The Role of the Executive
Specific National Implementation Responsibilities
Chief Executive Officers
The Public Service Board
Implementation of Legislation by the Executive
International Treaties

Chapter 14. The Regions

General
Regional Responsibilities

Chapter 15. Regional Assemblies

General
Election to Regional Assemblies
Qualification and Eligibility of Candidates
Assembly Procedures
Regional Legislation
Voting
Implementation of Ordinances

Chapter 16. Regional Executives

General
The role of the Regional Executive
Regional Chief Executive Officers
Election of Regional Chief Executive Officers
Executive Officers

PART FOUR: THE JUDICATURE

Chapter 17. The Justice System

General
The Courts
The Judicial Ombudsman
The Judicial Commission
Appointment of Judges
Termination and Dismissal of Judges
Trial by Jury 
The Constitutional Court
The Appeal Court
The Supreme Court
Corporations Law Court
Industrial Relations Court
Family Law Court
Children’s Court
Court of Petty Sessions
Small Claims Court
Mediators of the Peace

Chapter 18. The Penal System

PART FIVE: THE ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Chapter 19. The Economy

General
Economic Management
Monetary Policy
Fiscal Arrangements
Taxation
Private Banks & Other Private Financial Institutions
Ownership and Harvesting of Natural Resources
Imports and Exports
Land
Water
Energy
Agriculture
Mining
Fishing
Timber
Manufacturing

Chapter 20. The Environment

General
Population
Protection of the Environment

PART SIX: THE MEDIA

Chapter 21. The Constitutional Role of the Media

General
Public Owned Mass Media
Mass Media Obligations
The Australian Media Commission
Community Media Watchdogs

PART SEVEN: DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Chapter 22. Defence

General
The Commander in Chief
Chief of Defence Forces
Chief of Navy
Chief of Army
Chief of Air Force
Chief of Intelligence
Joint Force Headquarters
Defence Preparedness
Emergency and War Powers

Chapter 23. Australia Police

General
The Police Board
The Police Ombudsman
Chief Commissioner of Police
Regional Policing
Regional Commissioners of Police
Internal Security

Chapter 24. Emergency Services

General
Chief Commissioner of Emergency Services 
Regional Emergency Services

PART EIGHT: AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

Chapter 25. Mode of Changing the Constitution

General
Initiation of Referenda
Referendum Procedures
Constitutional Conventions
Plebiscites
Voting at Referenda and Plebiscites

PART NINE: THE SCHEDULES

Schedule 1. National Symbols

General
The Australian National Flag
The Australian Coat of Arms
The Australian National Anthem
Australian National Colours and Emblems

Schedule 2. Oaths and Affirmations

General
The President
Citizens
Members of Parliament and Regional Assemblies
Military Officers 
Police Officers
Public Officers

Schedule 3. Petitions, Plebiscites and Referenda

General
Petitions
Plebiscites and Referenda
Plebiscites
Referenda
Citizen Initiated Referenda
Procedure for Citizen Initiated Referenda
Referenda and Plebiscite Voting

Schedule 4. Mediators of the Peace

General
Role
Jurisdiction
Training
Appointment, Remuneration and Termination

Schedule 5. Property Title Levy

General
Releases
Property Title Levy Calculations 
Basic Property Title Levies
Value Added Property Title Levies
Property Title Levy Detriment Reductions

Schedule 6. The War Act

General
Currency
Commercial Activity
Rationing
Pay and Allowances
Work force
Compulsory acquisition

Schedule 7. The Peace Act

Schedule 8. Members of Commissions, etc

General 
Appointments
Tenure
Dismissal

Schedule 9. Remuneration of Senior Public Figures

The President
The President’s Consort
The Vice President
Members of Parliament
Parliamentary Chairmen
Chief Executive Officers
Members of Regional Assemblies
Regional Assembly Chairmen
Regional Chief Executive Officers
Regional Executive Officers
Judges
Ombudsmen
Chief Commissioner of Police
Regional Commissioners of Police
Chief Commissioner of Emergency Services
Regional Commissioners of Emergency Services
Members of Commissions
Annual Leave

Schedule 10: The Regions

General
Indicative Facts and Figures 
A Map

 

Note:

In this draft Constitution the paragraphs in italics are not part of the Draft Constitution; they are inserted as annotations to explain meaning or convey explanation of what effect the new provision will have on society.

E-mail: constitution@national-renewal.org.au

Last updated 25 March 2009