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== System of Government ==

== System of Government ==

Australia became a federated country on [[1 January]] [[1901]] under the [[Constitution of Australia]], and all former British colonies became states. The declaration of federation was made in Sydney. The parliament met in [[Melbourne]], Victoria, until the infrastructure was built for the capital city, [[Canberra]].  

Australia became a federated country on [[1 January]] [[1901]] under the [[Constitution of Australia]], and all former British colonies became states. The declaration of federation was made in [[Sydney]]. The parliament met in [[Melbourne]], Victoria, until the infrastructure was built for the capital city, [[Canberra]].  

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

Australia has a [[Parliament|parliamentary system]] of government based on the British system with a [[bicameral]] system, consisting of the [[Australian House of Representatives]] and the [[Australian Senate]]. Each state and territory also has its own parliament.   

Australia is a [[democracy]] which has allowed men of [[European]] descent to vote since federation, with non-Aboriginal women gaining the vote in 1902 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 non-Aboriginal women gaining the vote in 1902 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's Head of Government is the [[Prime Minister of Australia]]. The current Prime Minister is [[John Howard]], the leader of the [[Liberal Party of Australia]]. He lost the 2007 Federal Election on November 24 to (now Prime Minister-Elect) [[Kevin Rudd]], the head of the [[Labour Party of Australia]]. The Deputy Prime Minister-Elect is [[Julia Gillard]], the first woman to hold the position.

Australia's Head of Government is the [[Prime Minister of Australia]]. The current Prime Minister is [[Kevin Rudd]], the leader of the parliamentary wing of the [[Labour Party of Australia]] which won the federal election on 24 November 2007. The Deputy Prime Minister is [[Julia Gillard]], the first woman to hold the position and the first woman to be Acting Prime Minister during the temporary absence of Rudd on his first overseas trip.

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.) Under the Constitution, and in practice, the authority of the Head of State is vested in the [[Governor-General of Australia]], currently the retired Major-General Philip Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC, GCL, who assents to acts of parliament, is the Commander in Chief of the military forces, and appoints all Ministers of the Government; all these various powers are normally exercised on advice from the Prime Minister.  

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.) Under the Constitution, and in practice, the authority of the Head of State is vested in the [[Governor-General of Australia]], currently the retired Major-General Philip Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC, GCL, who assents to acts of parliament, is the Commander in Chief of the military forces, and appoints all Ministers of the Government; all these various powers are normally exercised on advice from the Prime Minister.  

===Parliamentary political parties===

===Parliamentary political parties===

Currently, the main political parties in Australia are:

Currently, the main political parties in Australia are:

* Australian Democrats

* [[Australian Democrats]]

* Australian Greens

* [[Australian Greens]]

* [[Australian Labor Party]]

* [[Australian Labor Party]]

* Family First Party

* [[Family First Party]]

* [[Liberal Party of Australia]]

* [[Liberal Party of Australia]]

* National Party of Australia

* [[National Party of Australia]]

   

   

Despite the name, the Liberal Party is conservative in political stance, 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>  The term "liberal" refers to the party's predominantly-[[free market|free-market]] approach to [[economics|economic management]].

Despite the name, the Liberal Party is conservative in political stance, 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>  The term "liberal" refers to the party's predominantly-[[free market|free-market]] approach to [[economics|economic management]].