What are constitutional referendums and what do they require to pass?

• A. They are votes to change the Constitution; they require a simple majority to pass.
• B. They are votes on changes to national laws only.
• C. They are votes to change the Constitution; they require a double majority to pass (nationwide majority and majority of states).
• D. They are votes to elect a constitutional assembly.

Answer: (C)

Constitutional referendums are votes to change the Australian Constitution, not ordinary laws made by Parliament. To pass, they require a double majority: a nationwide majority of voters in favour and a majority of states voting in favour. In other words, more than half of all Australians across the country must say yes, and at least four of the six states must have a majority yes in their own state results. The territories (ACT and NT) count toward the nationwide total but do not count toward the state-majority requirement. If either part of the double majority isn’t achieved, the referendum fails.