The Constitution is divided into eight chapters, collectively containing 128 sections.
The first three chapters state the respective powers of the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
This split into three chapters has been interpreted by the High Court as giving rise to a substantive separation of powers doctrine in Australia.

Chapter I: The Parliament sets up the legislative branch of government.
Its constituent parts are stated to be the Sovereign (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
It provides for the number of representatives to attend each body, and provides that the representatives attending both must be chosen directly by the electorate.
Each electorate of the house of representatives is to be apportioned equally by population, whereas senators are allocated unevenly between 'original states', the territories, and future states (of which none presently exist).
The house of representatives is required to have twice as many members as the senate.
Chapter 1 also provides for the monarchy.
While the incumbent monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, her legal capacity as queen of Australia is separate to her capacities as monarch to other nations.

The chapter notably also provides for the powers of the Commonwealth parliament.
The parliament is not granted plenary power by the constitution.
Section 51 contains a list of enumerated topics that the Commonwealth parliament is permitted to legislate upon.
States may also legislate upon these topics, but Commonwealth law prevails in the event of collision between the laws.
Section 52 contains a brief list of topics that only the Commonwealth may legislate upon.

Other matters dealt within the chapter include eligibility issues for voting or standing in elections; and miscellaneous matters regarding parliamentary procedures and allowances.

Chapter II: The Executive Government sets up the executive branch.
Executive powers are stated to be exercised by the Governor-General on the advice of the Federal Executive Council.
The Governor-General is stated to be the commander in chief, with power to appoint and dismiss persons within the executive, as well as the power to dissolve parliament.
These powers of the governor general are often referred to as reserve powers, and by constitutional convention are only exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister in cabinet.
On a federal level the reserve powers of the governor general have only been exercised absent the advice of the prime minister one time; when the Whitlam government was controversially dismissed by John Kerr.

Australia's military is also provisioned for within this chapter, with section 68 stating that command of Australia's naval and military forces is to be vested in the Governor-General.

Chapter III: The Judicature sets up the judicial branch.
Commonwealth judicial power is vested in a federal supreme court to be called the High Court of Australia.
The parliament is authorized to create federal courts, and to vest the exercise of federal judicial power within the courts of the states.
Section 74 (now defunct) provides for the circumstances in which an appeal may be made to the Queen in Council, s75 provides for the High Court's jurisdiction, and s80 guarantees trial by jury for indictable offences against the Commonwealth.

Chapter IV: Finance and Trade deals commercial matters within the federation.
s81 prescribes all Commonwealth revenue to a Consolidated Revenue Fund, and s90 gives the Commonwealth exclusive power over custom and excise duties.
Section 92 is notable for prescribing 'absolutely free' trade and commerce between the States.
Section 96 allows the Commonwealth to make grants on terms determined by Parliament.
s101 is notable for setting up the defunct Inter-State Commission.

Chapter V: The States contains provisions dealing with the States and their role in the federal system.
Sections 106-108 preserve the powers of the States, 109 gives Commonwealth legislation supreme force over that of State governments to the extent of inconsistencies.
Section 111 provides
The Constitution is divided into eight chapters, collectively containing 128 sections. The first three chapters state the respective powers of the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This split into three chapters has been interpreted by the High Court as giving rise to a substantive separation of powers doctrine in Australia.
Chapter I: The Parliament sets up the legislative branch of government. Its constituent parts are stated to be the Sovereign (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of Representatives. It provides for the number of representatives to attend each body, and provides that the representatives attending both must be chosen directly by the electorate. Each electorate of the house of representatives is to be apportioned equally by population, whereas senators are allocated unevenly between 'original states', the territories, and future states (of which none presently exist). The house of representatives is required to have twice as many members as the senate. Chapter 1 also provides for the monarchy. While the incumbent monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, her legal capacity as queen of Australia is separate to her capacities as monarch to other nations.
The chapter notably also provides for the powers of the Commonwealth parliament. The parliament is not granted plenary power by the constitution. Section 51 contains a list of enumerated topics that the Commonwealth parliament is permitted to legislate upon. States may also legislate upon these topics, but Commonwealth law prevails in the event of collision between the laws. Section 52 contains a brief list of topics that only the Commonwealth may legislate upon.
Other matters dealt within the chapter include eligibility issues for voting or standing in elections; and miscellaneous matters regarding parliamentary procedures and allowances.
Chapter II: The Executive Government sets up the executive branch. Executive powers are stated to be exercised by the Governor-General on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The Governor-General is stated to be the commander in chief, with power to appoint and dismiss persons within the executive, as well as the power to dissolve parliament. These powers of the governor general are often referred to as reserve powers, and by constitutional convention are only exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister in cabinet. On a federal level the reserve powers of the governor general have only been exercised absent the advice of the prime minister one time; when the Whitlam government was controversially dismissed by John Kerr.
Australia's military is also provisioned for within this chapter, with section 68 stating that command of Australia's naval and military forces is to be vested in the Governor-General.
Chapter III: The Judicature sets up the judicial branch. Commonwealth judicial power is vested in a federal supreme court to be called the High Court of Australia. The parliament is authorized to create federal courts, and to vest the exercise of federal judicial power within the courts of the states. Section 74 (now defunct) provides for the circumstances in which an appeal may be made to the Queen in Council, s75 provides for the High Court's jurisdiction, and s80 guarantees trial by jury for indictable offences against the Commonwealth.
Chapter IV: Finance and Trade deals commercial matters within the federation. s81 prescribes all Commonwealth revenue to a Consolidated Revenue Fund, and s90 gives the Commonwealth exclusive power over custom and excise duties. Section 92 is notable for prescribing 'absolutely free' trade and commerce between the States. Section 96 allows the Commonwealth to make grants on terms determined by Parliament. s101 is notable for setting up the defunct Inter-State Commission.
Chapter V: The States contains provisions dealing with the States and their role in the federal system. Sections 106-108 preserve the powers of the States, 109 gives Commonwealth legislation supreme force over that of State governments to the extent of inconsistencies. Section 111 provides 
Constitution of Australia