Changes

== System of Government ==

== System of Government ==

Australia became a federated country in 1901 with its parliament sitting in Melbourne, Victoria, while the capital city of Canberra was being built.   

Australia became a federated country in 1901 with its parliament sitting in [[Melbourne]], Victoria, while the capital city of Canberra was being built.   

Australia has a [[parliamentary system]] of government based on the British system with a [[bicameral]] system:  the House of Representatives and the Senate.  Each state also has its own parliament.   

Australia has a [[parliamentary system]] of government based on the British system with a [[bicameral]] system:  the House of Representatives and the Senate.  Each state also has its own parliament.   

Australia is a democracy which has allowed men of European descent to vote since federation, with women gaining the vote in the early 20th Century and Aboriginal men and women gaining suffrage in 1962.  Voting is compulsory for all citizens who are 18 years old and over (with a few exceptions.)

Australia is a [[democracy]] which has allowed men of [[European]] descent to vote since federation, with women gaining the vote in the early 20th Century and Aboriginal men and women gaining suffrage in 1962.  Voting is compulsory for all citizens who are 18 years old and over (with a few exceptions.)

Its Head of Government is called the [[Prime Minister]]; at the moment he is the leader of the Liberal Party, John Howard. The Head of State is [[Queen Elizabeth II]], the Queen of Australia (who is the same person, but a different title, as the Queen of Great Britain), who acts through the [[Governor-General]].

Its Head of Government is called the [[Prime Minister]]; at the moment the Prime Minister is [[John Howard]], the leader of the Liberal Party. The Head of State is [[Queen Elizabeth II]], the Queen of Australia (who is the same person, but a different title, as the Queen of Great Britain), who acts through the [[Governor-General]].

Strangely enough the Liberal Party, who have ruled in Australia since 1996 are actually conservative, a paradox established since the years that Sir Robert Menzies was prime minister. Menzies helped found the Liberal Party in 1944 and was the Prime Minister from 1939 until 1941 and then again from 1949 until 1966. <ref>[http://www.liberals.net/liberalpartyhistory.htm History of the Liberal Party in Australia]</ref>  Unlike in the USA there is no limit on the time a person can lead the country - it is the people's choice. The party that most Americans would recognize as "liberal" is the Labor Party whose leader is Kevin Rudd. The Labor Party are social democrats while the Liberals are liberal conservatives.

Despite the name, the Liberal Party, which has been in power in Australia since 1996, is actually conservative, a paradox established since the years that Sir Robert Menzies was Prime Minister. Menzies helped found the Liberal Party in 1944 and was the Prime Minister from 1939 until 1941 and then again from 1949 until 1966. <ref>[http://www.liberals.net/liberalpartyhistory.htm History of the Liberal Party in Australia]</ref>  Unlike in the USA there is no limit on the time a person can lead the country&mdash;it is the people's choice. The party that most Americans would recognize as "liberal" is the Labor Party whose leader is Kevin Rudd. The Labor Party are social democrats while the Liberals are liberal conservatives.