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  • Launching the Ship
    • Summary
    • Introduction
    • What is a Constitution?
    • Proclamation Day
    • Colonisation
    • Early Government
    • Representative Government
    • The Move for Self-Government
    • Constitution Act of 1889
    • Section 70
    • Franchise
    • Stable Government
    • Public Works
    • The Goldrush
    • Political Parties
    • Federation
    • State Government in the 20th Century
    • Appendix 1
    • Appendix 2
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Launching the Ship of State: A Constitutional History of Western Australia

Contents

Summary
Introduction
What is a Constitution?

Part One

i) Proclamation Day - political progress and economic prosperity.

Part Two

i) Colonisation - dispossession and denial.
ii) Early Government - the Governor and the Legislative Council.
iii) Representative Government - the first elections.
iv) The Move for Self-Government - popular politics and reform.

Part Three

i) Constitution Act of 1889 - creating a parliament.
ii) Section 70 - Aboriginal people and the Constitution.
iii) Franchise - electoral opportunity and political power.
iv) Stable Government - the Forrest family.
v) Public Works - politics and progress.
vi) The Goldrush - t'othersiders and political representation.
vii) Political Parties - political action and parliamentary control.
viii) Federation - new limits on colonial/state government.

Part Four

i) State Government in the 20th Century - alteration and progress?

Appendices

Appendix 1: Governors of Western Australia.
Appendix 2: A Constitutional Chronology.