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Australia was declared a federation in 1901 with the concurrence of the British Parliament, and now has a Federal Government, six State Governments and two Territories which are largely self-governing. Australia's system of government is based on the liberal democratic tradition, which includes religious tolerance and freedom of speech and association.
The form of government at the national level corresponds largely with the British democratic tradition. The federal legislature consists of a House of Representatives of 147 members representing individual electorates in all States and Territories and elected on a preferential voting system, and with a Senate consisting of 12 representatives from each State and two from each Territory elected through proportional representation.
The party with the majority in the House of Representatives provides a ministry from its members in the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the Prime Minister traditionally coming from the House of Representatives. Membership in the House of Representatives is divided between two major groupings, the Australian Labour Party and a coalition of the Liberal Party and the rural-based National Party. Elections must be held every three years, but may be held more frequently with the consent of the Governor-General.
Australia pioneered reforms that underpin the electoral practices of modern democracies. In 1855, the state of Victoria introduced the secret ballot, which became known throughout the world as 'the Australian ballot'. In the state of South Australia, women were given the vote in 1892.
Australia is one of a few countries to adopt compulsory voting at the national and state level and to have a permanent electoral commission charged with overseeing fair elections and regular redistribution of the boundaries of electorates for the House of Representatives.
Following the above objective, the Australian Constitution sets out the powers of government in three separate chapters for the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, but insists that members of the executive must also be members of the legislature.
In practice, Parliament delegates wide regulatory powers to the executive. Minority parties often hold the balance of power in the Senate, which serves as a chamber of review for the decisions of the government. Senators are elected for a six-year term and in an ordinary general election only half the senators face the voters.
In all Australian parliaments questions can be asked without notice, and there is a strict alternation between government and opposition questions to ministers during Question Time. The Opposition uses its questions to pursue the government. Government members give ministers a chance to put government policies and actions in a favourable light, or to pursue the Opposition. Anything said in Parliament can be reported fairly and accurately without fear of a suit for defamation. The rough and tumble of parliamentary Question Time and debates is broadcast and widely reported. This has helped to establish Australia's reputation for robust public debate, and serves as an informal check on executive power.
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