Made in 2026
Australian Constitution
Creates the Commonwealth framework and establishes the federal legislative, executive and judicial powers.
Parliament of Australia
The Commonwealth Parliament consists of the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Senate
Represents states and territories and shares federal law-making power with the House.
House of Representatives
The chamber whose confidence determines which party or coalition forms government.
Sovereign
The Sovereign is one of the three constituent parts of the Commonwealth Parliament, alongside the Senate and House of Representatives.
Governor-General
Performs the Commonwealth's formal head-of-state functions, commissions the Prime Minister and presides over the Federal Executive Council.
Prime Minister
By convention, the Prime Minister is a member of the House of Representatives and leads the party or coalition that can command majority support there.
Ministers
Parliamentarians selected for ministerial office. They administer portfolios and departments and may come from either house.
Cabinet
A senior subset of the ministry. Cabinet is the main federal policy-making and decision-making body.
Federal Executive Council
Generally includes all past and current Commonwealth ministers. Only current ministers conduct its business, usually two or three at a meeting with the Governor-General. It does not debate policy; it formally advises the Governor-General and approves documents such as regulations and statutory appointments.
Government Departments
Public-service organisations that advise ministers, administer laws and carry government policy into effect.
High Court of Australia
Australia's highest court and final court of appeal. It also decides constitutional questions.
Federal Court of Australia
Exercises federal jurisdiction across areas including administrative, commercial and migration law.
Federal Circuit and Family Court
Exercises family-law and other federal jurisdiction through Divisions 1 and 2.
Constitution Act 1975 (Vic)
Provides the constitutional framework for Victoria's Parliament, executive government and courts.
Melbourne Water
Waterways, flooding, drainage, catchments and water infrastructure across Greater Melbourne.
Heritage Victoria
Historic heritage, archaeology, heritage permits and the Victorian Heritage Register system.
Parks Victoria
Parks, reserves, biodiversity, conservation and public-land management.
Emergency Management Agencies
EMV, CFA and FRV: emergency risk, fire behaviour, evacuation and emergency coordination.
EPA Victoria
Independent environmental regulator with expertise in pollution, waste, contaminated land, air, water and noise.
Heritage Council of Victoria
Independent expert body making state heritage decisions and reviewing certain Heritage Victoria decisions.
Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
Independent Traditional Owner body dealing with Aboriginal cultural heritage across Victoria.
Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability
Independent scientific reporting and advice on Victoria's environment and public-land sustainability.
Parliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria consists of the Sovereign, the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly.
Legislative Council
The upper house of the Victorian Parliament.
Legislative Assembly
The lower house. The party or coalition with majority support forms the Victorian Government.
Sovereign
The Sovereign is one of the three constituent parts of the Parliament of Victoria, alongside the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly.
Governor of Victoria
The Sovereign's representative in Victoria. The Governor commissions the Premier, chairs the Executive Council and performs formal constitutional functions including Royal Assent.
Premier
By convention, the Premier is a member of the Legislative Assembly and leads the party or coalition that can command majority support there.
Victorian Ministers
Members of Parliament selected for ministerial office. They administer portfolios and departments and may come from either house.
Victorian Cabinet
Victoria's principal government decision-making body. It consists of the Premier and ministers.
Victorian Executive Council
Made up of the Premier and ministers who have been sworn into the Executive Council. The Governor chairs its meetings; it formally advises the Governor so executive decisions can be made by the Governor in Council.
Victorian Departments
Departments advise and support ministers and administer the state's public functions and services.
Supreme Court of Victoria
Victoria's highest court, including the Court of Appeal.
County Court of Victoria
Hears serious criminal matters, civil cases and some appeals.
Magistrates' Court
Handles the majority of criminal and civil matters that enter the Victorian court system.
VCAT
Resolves disputes and reviews administrative decisions across areas including planning.
Consumer
Disputes between people, including Home Rental and Consumer and Business Disputes.
People's Rights and Responsibilities
Anti-discrimination, guardianship, health and human rights.
Land and Environment
Land disputes between people or between people and government, including Planning, Property, Resources and Environment, and Valuation.
IBAC
Investigates serious corruption and police misconduct across the Victorian public sector.
Victorian Ombudsman
Investigates complaints about Victorian government departments, agencies, statutory authorities and local councils.
VAGO
Audits the financial statements and performance of Victorian public sector agencies and local government.
Local Government Act 2020
The principal Victorian Act governing local councils, councillors, council administration, chief executive officers and council staff.
Council
A council has two sides: democratically elected councillors and an administration of council employees.
Councillors
Residents elect councillors to represent the municipality and collectively make Council decisions.
Mayor
At most Victorian councils, councillors elect one of their fellow councillors as Mayor. Melbourne is a special case with a directly elected Lord Mayor.
Chief Executive Officer
The elected Council collectively appoints and employs the CEO, who leads the council organisation and manages its staff.
Council Officers
Planners, engineers, community-services staff and other employees carry out the council organisation's administrative, operational and statutory work.