The Australian System of Government
Updated 13 March 2008

The Australian Commonwealth Government is centred in Canberra, within the Australian Capital Territory.

The Australian Constitution of 1901 established a federal system of government. Under this system, powers are distributed between a federal government (the Commonwealth) and the six States (three Territories - the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island have self-government arrangements).

The Constitution defines the boundaries of law-making powers between the Commonwealth and the States/Territories.

• Commonwealth Govt Entry point: http://www.australia.gov.au/

Parliament of Australia
The Parliament is at the very heart of the Commonwealth government. The Parliament consists of the Queen (represented by the Governor-General) and two Houses (the Senate and the House of Representatives). These three elements make Australia a constitutional monarchy, a federation and a parliamentary democracy.

There are four important functions of parliament:

• to provide for the formation of a government;
• to legislate;
• to provide a forum for popular representation; and
• to scrutinise the actions of government.

Proposed laws (known as Bills) have to be passed by both Houses and be assented to by the Governor-General before they can become Acts of Parliament. With the exception of laws relating to revenue and taxation (which must be introduced in the House of Representatives), a proposed law can be introduced in either House.

Changes to the Constitution can only be made through a referendum. Before any referendum can be held, both Houses must agree on the proposed change, or if agreement cannot be reached, the Governor-General can present a proposal to the people. For a proposal to succeed, it must be favoured by the majority of people in a majority of the states, and by a majority of people overall.

• Australian Parliament House: http://www.aph.gov.au
• Australian Parliament Hansard: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/index.htm
• Parliamentary Education Office: http://www.peo.gov.au/
• Australia's Legal System: http://law.gov.au

House of Representatives

The House has 148 Members. Each Member represents an electoral division. The boundaries of these electorates are adjusted from time to time so that they all contain approximately equal numbers of electors-because of the distribution of Australia's population they vary greatly in area (from a few square kilometres to over two million square kilometres).

Members are elected by a system known as preferential voting, under which voters rank candidates in order of preference. Each House of Representatives may continue for up to three years, after which general elections for a new House must be held. Elections are often held before the end of this period.

• House of Representatives: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/

The Australian Senate

The Senate is one of the two houses of the Australian Federal Parliament. It consists of 76 Senators, twelve from each of the six states and two from each of the mainland territories. It has virtually equal power to make laws with the House of Representatives. It is elected by proportional representation, so that its composition closely reflects the voting pattern of the electors.

• The Senate: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate