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Representative democracy 代议制民主 Australia's system of government is based on representative or parliamentary democracy. This means that the Australian people elect representatives to make important decisions for them and govern on their behalf. These representatives form a parliament to make or change laws or require its residents to pay taxes. 澳大利亚的政府制度以代议制或议会制民主为基础。这意味着澳大利亚人民选举出议会代表为他们做出重要决策并代替他们管理国家。这些议员组成议会立法或改革法律，或要求居民纳税。 Australia's federal parliament has two chambers, the House of Representatives (or lower house) and the Senate (or upper house). Under the system of responsible government, the party (or parties in a coalition) which usually has a majority of seats in the lower house, becomes the executive government. The leader of the party (or parties in a coalition) with the same majority of seats in the lower house also becomes the prime minister. 澳大利亚联邦议会由两院组成，即众议院（或下议院）（the House of Representatives）和参议院（或上议院）（the Senate ）。在责任政府的体制中，通常在下议院占有多数席位的那一政党（或多党联盟）成为执政政府。那一在下议院拥有多数席位的政党（或多党联盟）的领导人则同时成为总理。 As parliament can't look after all the details which go into the day-to-day running of the country, the executive government runs the country by developing policy and enforcing laws. The executive government is made up of the prime minister and ministers chosen from elected members of parliament, of the same party or parties. These ministers become responsible for certain areas in running the country. The prime minister and his or her ministers are appointed by the Governor-General. 议会自然无法顾及到国家日常管理的所有方方面面，于是由行政政府做出政策，执行法律以管理国家。行政政府由总理和从他的政党或政党联盟中议员里挑出的部长们组成。这些部长负责国家管理中的某一领域。总理及其部长由总督任命。 The executive government is accountable to the parliament, which in turn is accountable to the people. 行政政府向议会负责，议会则向选民负责。 Elections are held regularly for the Australian and state or territory parliaments. Voting is compulsory in Australia and all Australian citizens who are 18 years and older are required to vote. The democratic process is transparent and accountable and the right to vote and change governments is taken very seriously. 澳大利亚联邦，各州及各领地的议会皆定期选举。澳大利亚实行义务投票制，凡年满十八岁以上的澳大利亚公民均须参加投票。这一民主程序是透明而负责的，人们十分严肃地对待投票权和政府换届。 Government departments assist their minister in delivering government policy. They are staffed by a civil service of permanent officers who are expected to be neutral and serve the executive government of the day. This neutrality also applies in dealings with the public, without any special favour or treatment. 各政府部门协助其部长执行政府政策。这些部门由长期任职的公务员组成，他们立场中立并为届时执政政府服务。这一中立性也在与公众交往中适用，不得对任何人有任何特殊优惠或特别对待。 |
