The three levels of Government (2024)

The three levels of Government

Australia is a representative democracy in which it is compulsory for all Australians over 18 years of age to enrol and vote for people to represent them.

There are three levels of government in Australia, and we vote to elect representatives to each of these levels:federal,state or territoryandlocal.

Poster: The three levels of Government

Federal government

The decision-making body of the federal government is Federal Parliament, which consists of two houses – the House of Representatives and the Senate.

People elected to the House of Representatives each represent a separate division or electorate in Australia. The leader of the federal government is called the Prime Minister. This is a person who has been elected (by their fellow party members) as the leader of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives.

The Senate is also often referred to as the ‘state’s house’ or the ‘house of review’ and plays a joint role with the House of Representatives in reviewing, debating and voting on proposed laws. Representatives elected to the Senate are called senators. They represent a whole state or territory - there are 12 senators for every state and two senators for each territory.

Federal government responsibilities include: foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, defence.

State and territory government

The decision-making body of state government is the state parliament which meets in the Parliament House of the particular state. Each state parliament, except for the Queensland Parliament, is made up of two houses.

Representatives elected to state parliaments are generally known as 'Members' – Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Members of the House of Assembly (MHA) or Members of the Legislative Council (MLC). The leader of a state government is called the Premier.

The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have a different arrangement. Each territory parliament has one house called the Legislative Assembly. The leader of each territory government is called the Chief Minister.

State and territory government responsibilities include: justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, main roads.

Local government

The decision-making body of local government is usually called the city council or shire council. Councils are established by state governments to look after the particular needs of a city or local community.

The people's representatives who form the Council are called aldermen or councillors. The head of the Council is the Mayor or Shire President.

Local government responsibilities include: local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations and land subdivisions, public health and recreation facilities such as swimming pools.

Updated: 3 December 2019

On this page:

  • Federal government
  • State and territory government
  • Local government
The three levels of Government (2024)

FAQs

The three levels of Government? ›

What are the 3 branches of our government? Legislative, Executive, Judicial.

What are the three levels of government responses? ›

Answer & Explanation. The three levels of government in the United States are the federal, state, and local governments. Each level of government has its own roles and responsibilities, including how they pertain to the fire service.

What are the levels of government answer? ›

Learn about the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This ensures that no individual or group will have too much power.

What are the three basic levels of government? ›

America. The three levels of government are the national level, the state level, and the local level. Each of the three levels have all three of the branches of government. The national government is located in Washington D.C. In the national government, the president is the leader of the executive branch.

What were the 3 parts of the government? ›

The Federal Government is composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U.S. Constitution in the Congress, the President, and the Federal courts, respectively.

What are the three 3 main functions of government? ›

Legislative, Executive, Judicial.

The Legislative Branch of our government makes the laws. The Executive Branch of our government enforces our laws. What are the two parts of our Congress? Senate and House of Representatives.

What are the 3 types of governmental powers describe them? ›

The U.S. Constitution establishes three separate but equal branches of government: the legislative branch (makes the law), the executive branch (enforces the law), and the judicial branch (interprets the law).

What is the national level of government? ›

A national government is the government, or political authority, that controls a nation. At minimum, a national government requires a national army, enough power over its states or provinces to set and maintain foreign policy, and the ability to collect taxes.

How does the government work for kids? ›

The executive branch, led by the President and the Vice President, enforces our laws. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets our laws. The legislative branch, which makes our laws, is the Congress. Congress has two parts: the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

What are the three levels of the U.S. government quizlet? ›

there are three levels; federal, state and local.

What are the 3 levels of government which is the highest authority? ›

Our federal government has three parts. They are the Executive, (President and about 5,000,000 workers) Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives) and Judicial (Supreme Court and lower Courts). The President of the United States administers the Executive Branch of our government.

What are the three levels of government 3rd grade? ›

Executive Branch: The Executive Branch sees that laws are carried out. Judicial Branch: The Judicial Branch makes sure that the laws and actions of the other branches agree with the United States Constitution. Legislative Branch: The Legislative Branch makes the laws.

What are the three branches of government for kids? ›

The Three Branches of Government
  • Legislative: The Congress. The legislative branch makes the laws of the United States, controls all of the money, and has the power to declare war.
  • Executive: The President and Vice President. ...
  • Judicial: The Supreme Court.

Who makes federal laws? ›

Congress is the lawmaking branch of the federal government. Learn how a bill becomes a law and how the process is different in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.

What stops one branch from becoming too powerful? ›

The Checks and Balances system provides each branch of government with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

What are the three levels of government in the United States quizlet? ›

there are three levels; federal, state and local.

What are the three levels of government not branches? ›

In California, as in the federal government, the power to govern is divided among three equal branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The executive branch of government executes the laws enacted by the Legislature.

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