Australia is a Commonwealth realm. It means, that Australia accepted the Westminster statute 1931, according to which the country’s leader is a British king, but at the same time Australia remains being an independent country.

Since 1953 Elizabeth II became the ruler of Australia. The Queen asserts a certain governor who has plenary powers to interfere in case of Constitutional crisis (similar to Australian constitutional crisis in 1975), but in ordinary time he has exceptionally representative powers.

There are three branches of authority in Australia:

a)      Legislative: The Parliament of Australia

b)      Executive: Federal Executive Council

c)      Judicial: High Court of Australia

Republicanism.

This country has the most powerful positions of republicans of all the Kingdoms of Concord. In February, 1998, a Constitutional convent was run in Canberra, most of which delegates voted for Australia being as a republic. There was also a referendum held in 1999, if Australians wished to make their country a republic one. 45,13 % (only in Canberra the quantity of republicans became more than a half, in the other territories only 39-48 % voted for it) wished to live in a republic, and in 2005 46% people voted for republic. The other 34% think, that the ruler of the country must be a British monarch. By the way, 52% of Australians don’t want the Welsh prince Charles to be the next king, which is expected to be him by 29% of population.

Many political analysts think, that Elizabeth II is the last British monarch, who is ruling the Australian Union.

In March 2007 the premiere minister John Howard doubted, that Australia will become a republic, while the authority belongs to Elizabeth II. John thinks about himself as a monarchist.

The date of the next referendum is not known exactly. As all the people think, Australia will become a republic in the next two decades.

Parliament.

Australia has a bicameral federal parliament, which consists of Senate (the top chamber) with 76 senators and House of Representatives (lower chamber). The Queen of England is also a member of Parliament, but she is represented by general-governor.

Main parties.

The main parties in Australia are Australian Labor Party, Liberal Party of Australia and National Party of Australia.