- Conventional Long Form Name of Australia: Commonwealth of Australia
- Capital City of Australia: Canberra - Type of Government: federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm - Date of Independence: January 1, 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies) - National Holiday(s): Australia Day is on January 26, 1788. ANZAC(commemorates the anniversary of the landing of the troops of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey) is on April 25, 1915. - Executive Branch and Powers: Cabinet: Prime Minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates whoa re subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general-Legislative Branch and Powers: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives) - Judicial Branch and Powers: High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general acting on the advice of the government) - Suffrage: Australian citizens 18 years and over are required to vote and any British subjects who were on the electoral roll before January 26, 1984 are also allowed to vote. A prisoner serving a sentence of five years or more, or a person with a standing conviction of treason, may not vote. - Ambassador to the U.S.: Hon Kim Beazley - Location of embassy in the U.S.: Washington D.C. - Location of Australian consulates in the U.S.: Chicago, New York City, Miami, Houston, San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Honolulu - American Ambassador to Australia: Jeffrey L. Bleich - Location of U.S. embassy in Australia: Canberra, Australia - Location of American consulates in Australia: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney - UN representative: Penny Wensley - National symbol(s): - Australia's National Anthem with lyrics: |
- Chief of State: Queen Elizabeth II
- Head of Government: Prime Minister Julia Gillard - Australian flag: The flag is consisted of three parts: the Union Jack which is the British flag in the top left corner, 'Star of Federation' in the bottom left corner, and the Southern cross taken up over half flag. The Union Jack shows that the first colonization by Europeans was by Britain. Australia started off as a penal colony. The Star of Federation is a seven pointed star. They came to the number seven, by giving each state (six in all) a point on the star, and having one more point for Australia's territories (of which there are several). There are two mainland territories, and several overseas, including two in Antarctica. The Southern Cross is a constellation that can be seen from all of Australia's states and territories. -National symbols(on flag): Southern Cross constellation (five, seven-pointed stars); kangaroo
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