kept their ranks better. Bi-partisan support was usually required for constitutional amendments to pass in Australia. The referendum was held on 22 September 1951. The question which appeared on the ballot was: Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Powers to deal with Communists and Communism) 1951'? The referendum was not carried. Constitution Alteration (Power to deal with Communists and Communism) 1951 The 'Constitutional Alteration (Power to deal with Communists and Communism) 1951' proposed to insert into the constitution after section 51 the following text.51A.--(1.) The Parliament shall have power to make such laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to communists or communism as the Parliament considers to be necessary or expedient for the defence or security of the Commonwealth or for the execution or maintenance of this Constitution or of the laws of the Commonwealth. (2.) In addition to all other powers conferred on the Parliament by this Constitution and without limiting any such power, the Parliament shall have power--- (a) to make a law in the terms of the Communist Party Dissolution Act 1950-- (i) without alteration; or (ii) with alterations, being alterations with respect to a matter dealt with by that Act or with respect to some other matter with respect to which the Parliament has power to make laws; (b) to make laws amending the law made under the last preceding paragraph, but so that any such amendment is with respect to a matter dealt with by that law or with respect to some other matter with respect to which the Parliament has power to make laws; and (c) to repeal a law made under either of the last two preceding paragraphs. (3.) In this section, 'the Communist Party Dissolution Act 1950' means the proposed law passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, and assented to by the Governor-General on the twentieth day of October, One thousand nine hundred and fifty, being the proposed law entitled 'An Act to provide for the Dissolution of the Australian Communist Party and of other Communist Organizations, to disqualify Communists from holding certain Offices, and for purposes connected therewith'. Results References 1951 referendums Anti-communism in Australia Communism in Australia Referendum Constitutional referendums in Australia September 1951 events in Australia