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Government of Victoria

Logo of the Victorian Government and its agencies
Coat of arms of the State of Victoria, used for formal and ceremonial purposes.
Formation	1851 as responsible Colonial government; 1901 as an Australian state
Australian state	Victoria
Website	http://www.vic.gov.au/
Legislative branch
Legislature	Parliament of Victoria; Legislative Council of Victoria Legislative Assembly of Victoria
Meeting place	Parliament House
Executive branch
Main organ	Victorian Ministry
Leader	Premier
Appointer	Governor
Meeting place	Parliament House
Judicial branch
Court	Supreme Court
Seat	Melbourne

The Government of Victoria is the executive administrative authority of the Australian state of Victoria.

Functioning within the scope of Victoria's status as a sub-national parliamentary constitutional monarchy, the Government was first formed in 1851, when Victoria first gained the right to responsible government. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, Victoria has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Constitution of Australia regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution, Victoria ceded legislative and judicial supremacy to the Commonwealth, but retained powers in all matters not in conflict with the Commonwealth.

The Victorian Government enforces Acts passed by the state Parliament through its vast array of government departments, statutory authorities and other related agencies. The Government is formally presided by the Governor of Victoria, who exercises their executive authority granted by the Constitution through the Executive Council, a body consisting of senior cabinet ministers. In reality, both the Governor and the Council are mostly ceremonial, with the Premier and their ministers having the real power over policy decisions, appointments and other executive orders made by the Governor-in-Council.

The current Premier is Daniel Andrews, a member of the Labor Party, while Linda Dessau has served as the Governor since 2015.

Executive power

The Government of Victoria operates under the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom.

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 of Victoria, who is appointed by the Governor and who hold office by virtue of his or her ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly, and the Cabinet designated by the Premier to the Governor. The Cabinet is the government's chief policy-making organ, and consists of the Premier and all ministers.

Legislative power

Legislative power rests with the Parliament of Victoria, which consists of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, represented by the Governor of Victoria, and the two Houses, the Victorian Legislative Council (the upper house) and the Victorian Legislative Assembly (the lower house).

Judicial power

Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Victoria and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

See also

• Victorian Ministry


• List of Victorian government agencies


• Local government areas of Victoria


• 
  Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities (2006)

References

External links

• Government of Victoria website


• Tourism Victoria