This paper discusses the government of Australia. The Australian Constitution of 1901 firmly incorporated a federal system of government. Under this system, powers are distributed between a federal government the Commonwealth and the six States. The Constitution fixes the limits of the boundaries of law-making powers between the Commonwealth and the States/Territories. The Senate has 76 Senators of whom 12 are picked for each of the 6 states, and 2 each for the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. State Senators are elected for 6-year terms, territory Senators for 3-year terms. Concerning the past, the Senate has been regarded as a State's House. The modern Senate is a very strong Chamber.
