When you think of the 'downlands' you don't really think about what kind of government they have. I chose to write about the Australian government because I don't hear much about Australia. He currently has quite an interesting story to tell when it comes to their government. I became somewhat interested in Australian politics when I saw a political cartoon online depicting Kevin Rudd, the last Prime Minister, on a television news show and it was quite humorous. I will give a brief history lesson on Australia and then explain how the government was formed and came to be. Next, I will talk about the Australian constitution, the branches of the Australian government, their federal system, political parties and the current Prime Minister of Australia. The Australian government is a constitutional monarchy and a federal Parliament. According to the Australian government website, it is called a constitutional monarchy because the country was established with a constitution and the head of state was Queen Victoria (Irving). Queen Victoria was then Queen of England. They also call it a Federal Parliament because their Constitution marked the birth of their nation and created a federal system of government (Irving). When a government is considered parliamentary, it has a Parliament and means that it elects a Prime Minister. I will now give a little history lesson. Australia had two types of people before the arrival of European settlers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 1688, a man named William Dampier was the first Briton to explore Australia (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). ). This is similar to how America had Native A...... middle of paper...... Irving "Constitution" The Oxford Companion to Australian Politics. Ed Brian Galligan and Winsome Roberts. Oxford University Press 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Hillsborough Community College. 23Farnsworth, Malcolm. Political parties. June 22, 2011. Liberal Party. We believe... June 22, 2011. National Archives of Australia. Julia Gillard. 22 June 2011. Pat Weller “Prime Ministers” The Oxford Companion to Australian Politics. Ed Brian Galligan and Winsome Roberts. Oxford University Press 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Hillsborough Community College. June 23, 2011 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t250.e290