Long-form name:
Commonwealth of Australia

Type:
Federal Parliamentary State

Capital:
Canberra

Administrative divisions:
6 states and 2 territories; Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Independence:
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Constitution:
9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Dependent areas:
Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard & McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

Legal system:
Based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday:
Australia Day, 26 January

Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch:
Bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch:
High Court

Suffrage:
Universal and compulsory at age 18

Flag:
Blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars

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