Australia
Parliament House. Photo by Thennicke.
Since 1901, Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
It is also one of the world's oldest federations.
The Australian system of government, in which power is divided between the federal and state, and territorial governments, combines elements derived from the political systems of the United Kingdom (a fused executive, constitutional monarchy, and strong party discipline) and the United States (federalism, a written constitution, and strong bicameralism with an elected upper house), along with distinctive indigenous features.
The federal government is separated into three branches:
- Legislature: the bicameral Parliament, comprising the monarch (represented by the governor-general), the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
- Executive: the Federal Executive Council, which in practice gives legal effect to the decisions of the cabinet, comprising the prime minister and other ministers of state-appointed by the governor-general on the advice of Parliament.
- Judiciary: the High Court of Australia and other federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the governor-general on the advice of Parliament.
Voting is compulsory for all enrolled citizens 18 years and over in every jurisdiction, as is enrollment, with the exception of South Australia. The party with majority support in the House of Representatives forms the government and its leader becomes Prime Minister.
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