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→System of Government: Add a couple of headings, add note about vote counting broadcast, and provide date of election
The Government of Australia is exercised, day-to-day, by the Ministers through their various Departments of State.
The Government of Australia is exercised, day-to-day, by the Ministers through their various Departments of State.
=== Voting ===
Australia has [[preferential voting]], which is designed to ensure that the candidates with the most support get into office, rather than the candidate with the most primary votes. So if three candidates, A, B, and C, get 40%, 35%, and 25% of the votes respectively (so no candidate has more than 50% of the votes), then the second preference of the voters who voted for C are distributed to the remaining candidates. The result might be that A ends up with 45% of the votes, and B with 55%, indicating that 55% of the voters prefer candidate B over A.
Australia has [[preferential voting]], which is designed to ensure that the candidates with the most support get into office, rather than the candidate with the most primary votes. So if three candidates, A, B, and C, get 40%, 35%, and 25% of the votes respectively (so no candidate has more than 50% of the votes), then the second preference of the voters who voted for C are distributed to the remaining candidates. The result might be that A ends up with 45% of the votes, and B with 55%, indicating that 55% of the voters prefer candidate B over A.
One consequence of this voting system is that it encourages a multiplicity of parties and even independent candidates. There have been times when the balance of power has been held by minor parties or independent individuals.
One consequence of this voting system is that it encourages a multiplicity of parties and even independent candidates. There have been times when the balance of power has been held by minor parties or independent individuals.
With the voting system, vote-counting is a protracted affair, and the major [[television]] networks broadcast live coverage of the progress of the counting.
=== Terms ===
There is no limit on the time a person can be a Member of Parliament (MP) (elected, notionally, for 3 years, but the timing of elections is decided by the Prime Minister) or a Senator (elected for two cycles of the House of representatives.) The Prime Minister is normally a member of the House of Representatives, and the tenure is not limited by statute. (John Gorton was a Senator when appointed leader of his party. He immediately resigned from the Senate and stood for election to the House of Representatives.)
There is no limit on the time a person can be a Member of Parliament (MP) (elected, notionally, for 3 years, but the timing of elections is decided by the Prime Minister) or a Senator (elected for two cycles of the House of representatives.) The Prime Minister is normally a member of the House of Representatives, and the tenure is not limited by statute. (John Gorton was a Senator when appointed leader of his party. He immediately resigned from the Senate and stood for election to the House of Representatives.)
The Federal 'opposition' political party, is the [[Australian Labor Party]]. Its leader is [[Kevin Rudd]]. The Labor Party is in government in all of the states and territories but remains in opposition at the Federal level. The next Australian Federal election is expected to be held late in 2007. The Labor Party is "social democratic" while the Liberals are "liberal conservatives"; however, some of the smaller parties are more socialist or more conservative than Labor and Liberal respectively.
The Federal 'opposition' political party, is the [[Australian Labor Party]]. Its current leader is [[Kevin Rudd]]. The Labor Party is in government in all of the states and territories but remains in opposition at the Federal level. The next Australian Federal election will be held on 24th November, 2007.
The Labor Party is "social democratic" while the Liberals are "liberal conservatives"; however, some of the smaller parties are more socialist or more conservative than Labor and Liberal respectively.
===Parliamentary political parties===
===Parliamentary political parties===