15

A.—s

or any territory placed by the Queen under the authority of and accepted by the Commonwealth, or otherwise acquired by the Commonwealth, and may allow the representation of such territory in either House of the Parliament to the extent and on the terms which it thinks fit. Alteration of limits of States. 116. The Parliament of the Commonwealth may, from time to time, with the consent of the Parliament of a State, increase, diminish, or otherwise alter the limits of the State, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed to, and may, with the like consent, make provision respecting the effect and operation of any increase or diminution or alteration of territory in relation to any State affected. Saving of rights of States. 117. A new State shall not be formed by separation of territory from a State without the consent of the Parliament thereof, nor shall a State be formed by the union of two or more States or parts of States, or the limits of a State be altered, without the consent of the Parliament or Parliaments of the States or States affected. CHAPTER VII.—MISCELLANEOUS. Seat of Government. 118. The seat of Government of the Commonwealth shall be determined by the Parliament. Until such determination, the Parliament shall be summoned to meet at such place within the Commonwealth as a majority of the Governors of the States, or, in the event of an equal division of opinion amongst the Governors, as the Governor-General, shall direct. Power to Her Majesty to authorise Governor-General to appoint deputies. 119. The Queen may authorise the Governor-General from time to time to appoint any person or any persons, jointly or severally, to be his deputy or deputies within any part or parts of the Commonwealth, and in that capacity to exercise, during the pleasure of the Governor-General, such of the powers and functions of the Governor-General as he deems it necessary or expedient to assign to such deputy or deputies, subject to any limitations or directions expressed or given by the Queen; but the appointment of such deputy or deputies shall not affect the exercise by the Governal-General himself of any power or function. Aborigines of Australia not to be counted in reckoning population. 120. In reckoning the numbers of the people of a State or other part of the Commonwealth aboriginal natives shall not be counted. CHAPTEE VIII.—AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION. Mode of amending the Constitution. 121. The provisions of this Constitution shall not be altered, except in the following manner:— Any proposed law for the alteration thereof must be passed by an absolute majority of the Senate and of the House of Representatives ; and shall thereupon be submitted in each State to the electors qualified to vote for the election of members of the House of Representatives not less than two nor more than six calendar months after the passage through both Houses of the proposed law. The vote shall be taken in such manner as the Parliament prescribes. And if a majority of the States and a majority of the electors voting approve the proposed law, it shall be presented to the Governor-General for the Queen's assent. But until the qualification of electors of members of the House of Representatives becomes uniform throughout the Commonwealth only one-half the votes for and against the proposed law shall be counted in any State in which adult suffrage prevails. But an alteration by which the proportionate representation of any State in either House of the Parliament, or the minimum number of Representatives of a State in the House of Representatives, is diminished, shall not become law without the consent of the majority of the electors voting in that State.

THE SCHEDULE. Oath. I, A.8., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Her heirs and successors according to law. So help me God ! Affiemation. I, A.8., do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Her heirs and successors according to law. (Note.—The name of the King or Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the time being is to be substituted from time to time.]