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This chapter was contributed by the Department of the Parliamentary Library of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia (October 2004).

Australia has a federal system of government within which there are four divisions: Commonwealth, state, territory and local government.

This chapter outlines the basic features of the Australian system of government, including:

• the constitutional basis of government

• the Sovereign

• the Governor-General

• the Commonwealth Parliament

• the Australian Government

• the Australian Public Service

• state government

• territory government - self-governing

• territory government - non-self governing

• local government

• the party system.