Launching the Ship Text Size a a a Print Page ContentA Constitutional History of Western AustraliaMathew TrincaCentre for Western Australian HistoryUniversity of Western Australia1997 Contents SummaryIntroductionWhat 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.