The Australian Government

Australia's formal name is the Commonwealth of Australia. The form of government used in Australia is a constitutional monarchy – constitutional' because the powers and procedures of the Australian Government are defined by a written constitution, and monarchy' because Australia's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II.

There are three arms' of the Australian Government:

• the legislature (or parliament) is responsible for debating and voting on new laws to be introduced under the power of section 51.
• the executive is responsible for enacting and upholding the laws established by the legislature. Certain members of the legislature (called ministers) are also members of the executive, with special responsibilities for certain areas of the law.
• the judiciary is the legal arm of the Australian Government. It is independent of the other two arms, and is responsible for enforcing the laws and deciding whether the other two arms are acting within their powers.