What Is the History of Australia’s Parliamentary System?

Did you know that Australia’s parliamentary system is based on the Westminster system? Or that the Australian Constitution can only be changed by the will of the Australian people? Perhaps you have heard the term ‘constitutional monarchy’ – but how does this system differ from an ‘absolute monarchy’? 

There is a lot to cover when teaching your students about the history of Australia’s parliamentary system. Luckily, Teach Starter is here to cut down on your preparation time when it comes to the Civics and Citizenship curriculum!

This reading comprehension activity enables students to build their comprehension and vocabulary skills while learning about the history and features of Australia’s parliamentary system. The passage covers the following content:

• Australia’s Parliament
• Australia’s System of Government
• Democracy
• The Australian Constitution
• Federation of States
• The Role of the Monarchy

The resource includes:

• Reading passage
• Multiple choice questions
• Short response questions
• Vocabulary activities
• Extended response question

Answers are also provided in the download to make marking a breeze!

Multiple Applications for This Australian Government Comprehension

In addition to independent student work time, why not use this worksheet as a:

• Whole-class activity (via smartboard)
• Collaborative group task
• Homework activity
• Summative assessment

Download the File Format That Suits You!

Use the dropdown menu to access the editable Google Slides or quick-print PDF version of this resource.

As this resource contains an answer sheet, we recommend printing one copy of the entire file, then removing the student pages for photocopying. 

Please consider printing this worksheet double-sided for sustainability purposes.

This resource was created by Amy Adam, a Teach Starter collaborator.

Click below for more time-saving resources to enhance your Australian Government lessons!

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History and Features of Australia's Parliamentary System - Mini-Book

Discover the history and features of Australia’s parliamentary system with this informative printable mini-book.

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History and Features of Australia’s Parliamentary System - Teaching Slides

Explore the ins and outs of Australia’s parliamentary history with this comprehensive set of teaching slides.

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Parliament of Australia Infographic Poster

A poster to display in the classroom that explains the Parliament of Australia.