1. Australia’s Government

2. Australia’s Government
Federal parliamentary democracy.
There are three key factors that determine Australia’s government:
form of leadership
type of legislature
role of the citizen

3. Form of Leadership Head of state Queen Elizabeth II (England)
Just a figurehead
She does not run the country
she signs laws
approves elections
commander-in-chief of the military.

4. Form of Leadership Governor General
The prime minister selects someone to represent the Queen in Australia. This is necessary because the Queen lives in London!!!!

5. Form of Leadership Prime minister head of the government
has the most political power
leader of the biggest political party in Parliament

7. Type of Legislature
Commonwealth Parliament-elected government that makes laws.
Every 4 years, citizens vote for members
2 houses of the Commonwealth Parliament:
House of Representatives
Senate

8. Type of Legislature House of Representatives: Selects Prime Minister
Australia is divided into areas called electorates
people living in each electorate vote for a person to represent them in parliament.
elected person becomes the MP of the House of Representatives for that area

9. Type of Legislature Senate: 76 members
12 people from each of the 6 states
2 people from each of the 2 territories

10. Role of the Citizen Democracy: voters choose the lawmakers
18 or over is required by law to vote.
Citizens vote for members in Senate and House of Representatives.
Voters do not vote for
head of state (Queen)
governor-general
directly for the prime minister.

11. Role of the Citizen Australians enjoy many freedoms.
freedom of religion, speech, job choice, travel, etc.
Their level of freedom is similar to what people have in the United Kingdom & the United States.