Australia has a Queen?!

As you have seen, Australia’s beauty cannot be matched by many other places around the world. Yet I knew my trip would not be complete without visiting the country’s capital city, Canberra. While amazed by the incredible adventures I have already experienced, I was excited to visit the seat of Australia’s government, which I knew nothing about.

I decided the best way to get a crash course on the Australian government was to see the Parliament House first-hand. The new building opened May 9, 1988 on Capital Hill, though the Old Parliament House still stands. Tours of the Parliament House are held regularly, so I was easily able to schedule one for myself. Even better, the tour was free.

The building was beautiful, and from ground level I noticed the boomerang shaped design! Much of the Parliament House is actually buried beneath Capital Hill.

The New Parliament House

During my tour of the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, I learned quite a bit about Australia’s political system. Australia, or formally the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Constitutional Monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. The Commonwealth was formed in 1901, when six British colonies joined together. Since then, the government has abided by the rules set in the Australian Constitution.

Australia has a federal system, with powers divided between the central government and six individual state governments. The three arms of the central or Commonwealth Government are the executive, legislative (parliament), and the judiciary. Kevin Rudd is the current Australian Prime Minister who acts as head of the executive with his cabinet. The law-making body, parliament, is a bicameral system with the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The House of Representatives Chamber

The Senate Chamber

Each of the six states still have the power to make some of their own laws. Each state has its own constitution and a structure of legislature, executive, and judiciary. In additions, territories, which are areas within the border that are not a part of any of the six states, can become states with the approval of the Commonwealth legislature. These state and territory governments control the powers of the local governments, also known as local councils, which control certain community services.



Works Cited
http://www.aph.gov.au/parl.htm#execgov
http://www.pm.gov.au/The_Ministry/Cabinet
http://www.peo.gov.au/students/cl/aph.html
http://www.peo.gov.au/students/cl/multi.html#part1
http://www.aph.gov.au/visitors/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_House,_Canberra

Pictures
http://www.aph.gov.au/visitors/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_House,_Canberra