What is the Washminster system?

‘Washminster’ is sometime used to describe the Australian system of government because it combines elements of the British – Westminster – and United States (the capital of the United States is Washington DC) systems of government.

From the Westminster system we got:

  • Government formed and responsible to an elected house of parliament
  • Opposition members of parliament who scrutinise – closely examine – the government
  • A constitutional monarch who acts on the advice of the prime minister

From the United States system of government we got:

  • The names ‘Senate’ and ‘House of Representatives’
  • Each state has the same number of representatives in the Senate
  • The number of members of the House of Representatives from each state is determined by the population of that state
This graphic illustrates the 5 components of the Australian system of government.

The Australian system of government.

Parliamentary Education Office (PEO.GOV.AU)

The Australian system of government.

This graphic illustrates the 5 components of the Australian system of government.

Parliamentary Education Office (PEO.GOV.AU)

Description

This graphic illustrates the 5 components of the Australian system of government:

  • democracy
  • representative democracy
  • consitution
  • constitutional monarchy
  • federation of states

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