Democracy. Symbolic executive power is vested in the British monarch, who is represented throughout Australia by the governor-general.
The executive power of the commonwealth is vested in a governor-general and a cabinet, watched over by the prime minister, which represents the party or coalition holding a majority in the lower house of parliament. The government consists of two houses, the Senate, whose 76 members are elected to six- or three-year terms, depending on whether they represent a state or territory, and the House of Representatives, whose 150 members are elected to three-year terms. The distribution of federal and state powers is roughly like that in the United States. British intervention in Australian affairs was formally ended in 1986. From its early years the federal government has been noted for its strick legislation, such as woman suffrage. There are four main political parties: Liberal, Labor, National, and Democratic.
