AUSTRALIA

The Commonwealth government was created with a constitution patterned partly on the U.S. Constitution. The powers of the Commonwealth are specifically defined in the constitution, and the residual powers remain with the states. The federal Parliament is bicameral, consisting of a 76-member Senate and a 148-member House of Representatives. The members of the House of Representatives are allocated among the states and territories roughly in proportion to population.
CURRENT GOVERNMENT
Governor General Michael JEFFERY, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Prime Minister John HOWARD Dep. Prime Min. Mark VAILE Min. for Aging Santo SANTORO Min. for Agriculture, Fisheries, & Forestry Peter MCGAURAN Min. for the Arts & Sport Rod KEMP Min. for Communications, Information Technology, & the Arts Helen COONAN Min. for Defense Brendan NELSON Min. for Education, Science, & Training Julie BISHOP Min. for Employment & Workplace Relations Kevin ANDREWS Min. for the Environment & Heritage Ian CAMPBELL Min. for Families, Community Services, & Indigenous Affairs Mal BROUGH Min. for Finance & Administration Nicholas MINCHIN Min. for Fisheries, Forestry, & Conservation Eric ABETZ Min. for Foreign Affairs Alexander DOWNER Min. for Health & Aging Anthony ABBOT Min. for Human Services Joe HOCKEY Min. for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs Amanda VANSTONE Min. for Industry, Tourism, & Resources Ian E. MACFARLANE Min. for Justice & Customs Christopher ELLISON Min. of Local Government, Territories, & Roads Jim LLOYD Min. for Revenue Peter DUTTON Min. for Small Business & Tourism Fran BAILEY Min. for Trade Warren TRUSS Min. for Transport & Regional Services Mark VAILE Min. for Veterans' Affairs Bruce BILLSON Min. for Vocational & Technical Education Gary HARDGRAVE Min. for Workforce Participation Sharman STONE Treasurer Peter COSTELLO Special Min. of State Gary NAIRN Attorney General Philip RUDDOCK Governor, Reserve Bank Glenn STEVENS Ambassador to the US Dennis RICHARDSON Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Robert HILL