Austrália Governo Perfil 2008

Capital

nome: Canberra
coordenadas geográficas: 35 17 S, 149 13 E
diferença do tempo: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March
note: Australia is divided into three time zones

Independência

1 Janeiro 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Feriado nacional

Australia Day, 26 Janeiro (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 Abril (1915)

Constitución

9 Julho 1900, efectiva 1 Janeiro 1901

Sufrágio

18 anos de idade; universal y compulsório

Poder Executivo

chefe do estado: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (desde 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFERY (desde 11 August 2003)
cabeça de governo: Prime Minister Kevin RUDD (desde 3 December 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Julia GILLARD (desde 3 December 2007)
cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general