GOVERNMENT OF Australia SS6CG7 – The student will explain the structure of the national government of Australia GOVERNMENT OF Australia

ELEMENTS Describe the federal parliamentary democracy of Australia, distinguishing form of leadership, type of legislature, and the role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms

What is the structure of the Australian government? ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What is the structure of the Australian government? What role does the citizen have as a participant in Australia’s government?

AUSTRALIA’S GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE Australia’s government system is a federal parliamentary democracy Australia has a written constitution, but is still run by a figurehead leader Australia’s government is similar to the government set up in Great Britain

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE Australia is led by a figurehead leader who has no power, the king or queen of England Like Canada, Australia also has a governor-general who also has no power, but represents the king or queen in Australia The real power is held by Parliament, who is the legislative group in Australia They make the laws for the country Broken down into two houses: Senate and the House of Representatives Another person with power is also the prime minister, who is chosen by the members of Parliament

ROLE OF CITIZENS IN AUSTRALIA Citizens of Australia have personal freedoms like ones in the United States, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equal rights and freedom of the press The voting age for Australia is 18, and citizens are required to vote, and can face a fine if they do not Australia has one of the highest voter turnouts in the world