The Victoria State Government, also referred to as the Victorian Government, is the
executive government of the
Australian state
The states and territories are the national subdivisions and second level of government of Australia. The states are partially sovereignty, sovereign, administrative divisions that are autonomous administrative division, self-governing polity, ...
of
Victoria.
As a
parliamentary
In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy or democratic monarchy, is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in making decisions. ...
, the State Government was first formed in 1851 when Victoria first gained
responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive br ...
. The
Constitution of Australia
The Constitution of Australia (also known as the Commonwealth Constitution) is the fundamental law that governs the political structure of Australia. It is a written constitution, which establishes the country as a Federation of Australia, ...
regulates the relationship between the Victorian Government and the Commonwealth level of government, and cedes legislative and judicial supremacy to the federal government on conflicting matters.
The Victoria State Government enforces
acts
The Acts of the Apostles (, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; ) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message to the Roman Empire.
Acts and the Gospel of Luke make up a two-par ...
passed by the parliament through government departments, statutory authorities, and other public agencies. The government is formally presided over by the
governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
, who exercises executive authority granted by the
state's constitution through the Executive Council, a body consisting of senior cabinet
ministers. In reality, both the governor and the Executive Council are largely ceremonial, with the
premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of govern ...
and ministers having control over policy, appointments, and other executive orders made by the governor.
Executive branch
The Government of Victoria operates under the principles of the
Westminster system
The Westminster system, or Westminster model, is a type of parliamentary system, parliamentary government that incorporates a series of Parliamentary procedure, procedures for operating a legislature, first developed in England. Key aspects of ...
as adapted in the Australian Constitution and of
responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive br ...
. Both systems and principles of governance have developed out of the United Kingdom, to which Victoria was previously a colony.
Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of the governor and senior ministers. In practice, executive power is exercised by the premier, appointed by the governor, provided they can
command the support of a majority of members of the
Legislative Assembly. The Cabinet is the de facto chief policy making organ and consists of the premier and all ministers.
See also
*
The Allan Ministry, the current Cabinet formation
*
List of Victorian government agencies
*
Local government areas of Victoria
*
Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities
Victorian or Victorians may refer to:
19th century
* Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign
** Victorian architecture
** Victorian house
** Victorian decorative arts
** Victorian fashion
** Victorian literature ...
(2006)
References
External links
*
The Constitution of Victoria
{{Authority control
*