Political system of Australia

Project 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

POLITICAL SYSTEM OF AUSTRALIA 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Created by Kutlova Olga. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

     Australia is an independent country within the Commonwealth( Picture 1). Formally the British monarch is the head of state and has royal representatives in the country and in each of the six states ( Picture 2 ).

     According to the Australian Constitution, that was adopted on January 1, 1901, the legislative branch is represented by the Federal Parliament. The Parliament is made up of two houses: the Senate with 76 senators and the House of Representatives with 148 members. The lawmakers are elected by the people. Voting is compulsory. Australian citizens can vote by mail. Those who abstain from voting are fined. Australians are proud of the fact that secret ballot was first introduced in Australia.

     The party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives forms  the Cabinet and its leader becomes Prime Minister. So, the executive branch in Australia includes the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Like in Great Britain they come from the Federal Parliament and are responsible to it for government decisions. The main political parties are the Liberal Party and the National Party. Normally they act in coalition. The Australian Labour Party and the Australian Democrats also play a great role in politics.

     There is a questions whether Australia should become a republic with an Australian head of state. The debate on the problem started several years ago. Everybody in Australia understands that a change to republic needs the assent of the Australian people at a referendum. In February 1998, Australia began the process of severing its constitutional link to the Queen. 
 

         Picture 1. The National flag of Australia. 
 

              Picture 2. The Australian State Emblem.