Info
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
f . Inherited monarchy with a Governor appointed by the Monarch
Comments: 2. Governor-General
A Governor-General appointed by the Queen shall be Her Majesty’s representative in the Commonwealth, and shall
have and may exercise in the Commonwealth during the Queen’s pleasure, but subject to this Constitution, such powers
and functions of the Queen as Her Majesty may be pleased to assign to him.
(Australia's Constitution, chapter 1, art. 2).
As a non-self governing territory of Australia, the head of the Islands is the British monarch, represented by the Australian governor general. (CIA World Factbook).
Source: Australia's Constitution of 1901, chapter 1, art. 2: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Constitution
CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ck.html
Verified: 2019/07/05
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments: 64. Ministers of State
The Governor-General may appoint officers to administer such departments of State of the Commonwealth as the Governor-General in Council may establish.
Such officers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor-General. They shall be members of the Federal Executive Council, and shall be the Queen's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth.
(Australia's Constitution, chapter 2, art 64).
The administrator is appointed by the Australian governor general and represents both the monarch and Australia. (CIA World Factbook).
Source: Australia's Constitution of 1901, chapter 2, art 64: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Constitution
CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ck.html
Verified: 2019/07/06
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
b . No
Comments: 61. The executive power of the Commonwealth is vested in the Queen and is exercisable by the Governor-General as the Queen's representative, and extends to the execution and maintenance of this Constitution, and of the laws of the Commonwealth.
Source: Australia's Constitution of 1901, chapter 2, art 61: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Constitution
Verified: 2019/07/08
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
a . One chamber
Comments: 1. The legislative power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Federal Parliament, which shall consist of the Queen, a Senate, and a House of Representatives, and which is hereinafter called The Parliament, or The Parliament of the Commonwealth.
Source: Australia's Constitution of 1901, chapter 1, part 1, art. 1: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Constitution
Verified: 2019/07/08
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
b . Alternative Vote
Comments: 274.
(7)The Divisional Returning Officer:
(c) from the result of the scrutiny of the votes counted under the provisions of subsections (3) and (4), and the fresh scrutiny conducted under the provisions of this subsection, shall ascertain the total number of first preference votes given for each candidate and the number of informal ballot papers; and
(ca) must then proceed with the scrutiny and the counting of the votes as follows:
(i) if, after ascertaining the first preference votes given for each candidate, no candidate has an absolute majority of votes, the Divisional Returning Officer must apply subsection (7AA);
(ii) if, after ascertaining the first preference votes given for each candidate, a candidate has an absolute majority of votes, that candidate is elected; and
(d) if, after applying subsection (7AA), subparagraph (7AA)(b)(i) applies, shall proceed with the scrutiny and the counting of the votes as follows:
(i) the candidate who has received the fewest first preference votes shall be excluded, and each ballot paper counted to the candidate shall be counted to the candidate next in the order of the voter’s preference;
(ii) the process of excluding the candidate who has the fewest votes, and counting each of his or her ballot papers to the unexcluded candidate next in the order of the voter’s preference, shall be repeated until only 2 candidates remain in the count; and
(iii) if, following the exclusion of candidates under this paragraph, a candidate has an absolute majority of votes, that candidate shall be elected.
(7AA) If, after ascertaining the total number of first preference votes for each candidate under paragraph (7)(ca), no candidate has an absolute majority of votes, the Divisional Returning Officer must take the following steps:
(a) rank the candidates consecutively in order of their standing in the poll as set out in subsection (7AB);
(b) then:
(i) if the total number of first preference votes for all the candidates, other than the first and second ranked candidates, is equal to or more than the number of first preference votes for the second ranked candidate—proceed with the scrutiny as set out in paragraph (7)(d); or
(ii) if the total number of first preference votes for all the candidates, other than the first and second ranked candidates, is less than the number of first preference votes for the second ranked candidate—exclude all the candidates other than the first and second ranked candidates;
(c) if subparagraph (b)(ii) applies—count each ballot paper of an excluded candidate to whichever of the first or second ranked candidates is earlier in the order of preference expressed on the ballot paper.
(7AC) If, following the exclusion of candidates under subparagraph (7AA)(b)(ii) and the count of ballot papers under paragraph (7AA)(c), a candidate has an absolute majority of votes, that candidate is elected.
Source: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, as amended on 8 March 2019, Art. 240, 274: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00103
Verified: 2019/07/08
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