The Annotated Constitution of the Australian Commonwealth (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Annotated Constitution of the Australian CommonwealthOur chief aim has been a practical one. Clear as is the language of the Constitution, it cannot be fully understood without the study of a large correlated literature.The Federation of the Australian colonies has occupied the best energies of the statesmen and the people of Australia for many years; and this Constitution is the outcome of exhaustive debates, heated controversies, and careful com promises. It is an adaptation of the principles of British and colonial government to the federal system. Its language and ideas are drawn, partly from the model of all modern govern ments, the British Constitution itself; partly from the colonial Constitutions based on the British model; partly from the Federal Constitution of the United States of America; and partly from the semi-federal Constitution of the Dominion Of Canada; with such modifications as were suggested by the circumstances and needs of the Australian people.The Constitution of the Commonwealth, therefore, is not an isolated document. It has been built on traditional foundations. Its roots penetrate deep into the past. It embodies the best achievements Of political progress, and realizes the latest attainable ideals of liberty. It represents the aspirations of the Australian people in the direction of nationhood, so far as is consistent and in harmony with the solidarity of the Empire.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.