New South Wales operates as a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The monarch is represented at the state level by the Governor of New South Wales, whose role is largely ceremonial.
The state government is seated at Parliament House in Sydney and features a bicameral legislature: the Legislative Assembly (lower house) and the Legislative Council (upper house). The leader of the political party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly becomes the Premier, who serves as the head of government and chief executive of the state.
Local government in NSW is administered by roughly 128 local councils, which are responsible for community services, local infrastructure, town planning, and waste management. The state government holds responsibility for major public services, including public education, healthcare (through NSW Health), police, and state highways.