Structure of the Australian Federal Government

Three Branches

• Executive: Prime Minister (head of government) + Cabinet, appointed by Governor-General (King's representative). PM leads the majority party/coalition in House of Representatives.
• Legislative: Parliament – bicameral: Senate (76 senators, 12 per state, 2 per territory) + House of Representatives (151 members, single-member districts).
• Judicial: High Court of Australia (7 justices, incl. Chief Justice) – final appellate court, constitutional interpreter. Federal courts below.

Key Institutions

• Australian Public Service (APS): Career civil service implementing policy.
• The Treasury: Economic/fiscal policy, budget.
• Australian Defence Force (ADF): Navy, Army, Air Force.

Federal system: States (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS) and Territories (NT, ACT) have own governments with reserved powers.