Beyond 'Ignorance and Apathy': Public Perceptions of the Australian Constitution During a Referendum

While Australians might only rarely engage with the Constitution, when they are called on to do so in a referendum, their perceptions of the role, content and value of the Constitution are critical. In this article we use original large-n survey data to measure citizens' knowledge and perception of the Constitution, both in a general sense and in relation to the specific reform issue of including a First Nations Voice. We demonstrate that while most Australians have only a basic understanding of the Constitution, the variation in what they do know informs their perspective on proposed
amendments in a meaningful way. The study therefore has important implications for ongoing civic education efforts and post-referendum analysis.