AUSTRALIA - POLITICAL SYSTEM

    The official title is THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA and it is an independent state within The British Commonwealth of Nations.

• NEW SOUTH WALES (capital Sydney, map, flag)

• VICTORIA (capital Melbourne, map, flag)

• QUEENSLAND (capital Brisbane, map, flag)

• SOUTH AUSTRALIA (capital Adelaide, map,  flag)

• WESTERN AUSTRALIA (capital Perth, map,  flag)

• TASMANIA (capital Hobart, map, flag)

• AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY It is a part of the country surrounding Australia's capital CANBERRA, which had been chosen and build up as the capital of the whole country. Canberra was founded in 1913. It is a modern city with many parks and gardens. There is also an artificial lake here. New buildings of the Federal Parliament were opened in 1988 when the Australians were celebrating 200th anniversary of founding of the first European settlement in Australia (Sydney). Canberra is the seat of the Federal Government, the Federal Parliament and other federal institutions (flag).

• NORTHERN TERRITORY (map) is thinly populated, however there is a strong urge now to change it into the seventh state (about 140,000 people live here). (flag)

    Each state has its own constitution, governor (the monarch's representative), executive, legislative and judicial system. Each territory has its own legislative assembly.

GOVERNMENT

    Australia  has a democratic, federal system and the head of state is the British King or Queen (Elizabeth II at present) represented by the Governor-General. The head of government is the Prime Minister.
    The constitution came into effect on January 1, 1901.The Federal Parliament has its seat in Canberra and consists of two chambers : the elected Senate of 76 members (12 for each state and 2 for each territory); and the House of Representatives of 148 members. Senators serve for six years, and members of the House for three years.
    The main political parties are the Liberal Party, the National Party (normally in coalition), the Australian Labor Party, and the Australian Democrats.

NATIONAL SYMBOLS

    The Australian national flag consists of the British Flag symbol and a larger blue field in with 5 stars are arranged in the form of the Southern Cross constellation. The large white star under the British Union Jack symbolizes 6 Australian states and 1 territory. (See also the aboriginal flag.)