Government and the Law: Citizenship Test Practice Questions
Government and the Law is one of the four sections of Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official resource every real test question comes from. It covers: How Australia is governed: the Constitution, federal, state and local government, the Senate and House of Representatives, voting, elections, courts and how laws are made.
Of the 280 questions in our practice bank, 120 are Government and the Law questions. On a typical 20-question test you can expect roughly 9 from this section. Below are 9 sample questions with answers and explanations to show you exactly what to prepare for.
Sample Government and the Law Questions and Answers
Try each question before expanding the answer. Every question below also appears in one of our free practice tests.
1. What is the primary purpose of compulsory voting in Australia?
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Explanation
Mandatory voting systems aim to guarantee that the populace actively participates in selecting their parliamentary representatives and government.
2. What is the penalty for failing to vote without a valid reason?
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Explanation
If you abstain from voting in an election without a legitimate justification, you are required to pay a financial penalty.
3. What is the sole mechanism for altering the Australian Constitution?
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Explanation
Changes to the Australian Constitution can only be enacted through a specific type of national vote known as a referendum.
4. What conclusive action is necessary for a proposed law (a Bill) to be officially enacted?
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Explanation
The legislative process involves: proposal (Bill introduction), debate and voting in both Houses, approval by the majority in each House, and finally, the Governor-General's signature (Royal Assent).
5. How many Senators are elected to represent each Australian state?
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Explanation
Each Australian state elects exactly twelve individuals to serve as its representatives in the Senate.
6. Identify another common designation for the House of Representatives.
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Explanation
Alternative names sometimes used for the House of Representatives include the Lower House or the People’s House.
7. Local governments typically manage all the following services EXCEPT:
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Explanation
Policing services fall under the jurisdiction of state, territory, and federal governments, not local councils.
8. How many federal electorates is Australia divided into for the House of Representatives?
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Explanation
Australia is divided into over 150 federal electorates, with each electorate electing one member to the House of Representatives.
9. If you are arrested in Australia, what is a key legal right you possess?
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Explanation
A fundamental principle of the Australian justice system is the presumption of innocence: an individual is considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Practise Government and the Law Until It Sticks
The app has 14 dedicated category tests, so you can practise Government and the Law questions on their own. All 16 mock exams, every question in 13 languages, and weak-spot tracking, all in the app.
Study This Section First
Prefer to read before you practise? Our Government and the Law study guide breaks down everything this section of Our Common Bond actually tests.
Read the Government and the Law study guide