Australia operates as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The nation retains King Charles III as its sovereign, represented domestically by the Governor-General at the federal level and by Governors at the state level. However, the monarch's role is largely ceremonial, with executive power exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, drawn from the elected parliament.
The federal legislature is bicameral, modeled on both the British Westminster system and the United States Congress. It consists of the House of Representatives (the lower house, where government is formed by the majority party or coalition) and the Senate (the upper house, providing equal representation for the states). Voting is compulsory for citizens over the age of 18.
The country is divided into six states (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania) and two major mainland territories (the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory). State governments have significant autonomy, controlling vital public services such as public schooling, health care, police, and regional transportation.
