Learning Objectives

Constitutional Roles

The governor general possesses many roles within the Australian legal and political system. In reference to the Constitutional roles, the Governor General:

Presides over the Federal Executive Council as written under section 62 of the Commonwealth Constitution;

Facilitates the work of the Commonwealth Parliament and Government such as by providing royal assent;

Dissolves Parliament and issues writs for a Federal election;

Commissions the Prime Minister, as well as appoints Ministers and Assistant Ministers (by the recommendation of the Prime Minister);

Holds and possibly may chose to exercise the Reserve Powers (which have only been ever used once before, during the 1975 'crisis').

Ceremonial Roles

Ceremonial roles of the Governor General refers to those to which the Governor General has formal duties in the wider community. These include, but are not limited to:

Hosting visiting Heads of State (Leaders) and other prominent visitors to Australia;
Opening new sessions of parliament

Military Roles

Military roles of the Governor General refers to those to which the Governor General has formal duties in the defence community. These include, but are not limited to:

Through Federal Executive Council, appointing high military personnel;
Presenting Colours, Banners and other Honours to military units and personnel and,
Visiting military units to acknowledge the service of service personnel.

Other Roles

These roles are often used by the GG to represent Australian beliefs on a variety of levels. Such roles are:

Attend funerals and services;
Presenting awards at major functions, and
Traveling widely in order to meet people and listen to their beliefs - engaging within the Australian society.