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Government of New South Wales
 
 
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The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. Since 1901, New South Wales
New South Wales

New South Wales is Australia's oldest and most populous States and territories of Australia, located in the south-east of the country, north of Victoria and south of Queensland....
 has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
, and the Australian Constitution regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth.

Under the Australian Constitution, New South Wales ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas.






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The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. Since 1901, New South Wales
New South Wales

New South Wales is Australia's oldest and most populous States and territories of Australia, located in the south-east of the country, north of Victoria and south of Queensland....
 has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
, and the Australian Constitution regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth.

Under the Australian Constitution, New South Wales ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas. The New South Wales Constitution says: "The Legislature shall, subject to the provisions of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, have power to make laws for the peace, welfare, and good government of New South Wales in all cases whatsoever." In practice, however, the independence of the Australian states has been greatly eroded by the increasing financial domination of the Commonwealth.

New South Wales is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system
Westminster System

The Westminster system is a Democracy parliamentary system of government modelled after the British government . The term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the UK Parliament....
, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of New South Wales
Parliament of New South Wales

The Parliament of New South Wales is the supreme law making body in New South Wales, a state of Australia. It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections....
, which consists of the Crown, represented by the Governor of New South Wales, and the two Houses, the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council

The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales of New South Wales in Australia....
 and the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales. The other is the New South Wales Legislative Council....
.

Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers. The Governor, as representative of the Queen, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of New South Wales and the Cabinet.

The Premier and Ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly.

Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales

The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian States and territories of Australia of New South Wales . It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil law matters, and hears the most serious criminal law matters....
 and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia

The High Court of Australia is the final court of appeal in Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States and territories of Australia, and interprets the Const...
 and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

New South Wales celebrated the Sesquicentenary
Anniversary

An anniversary is a day that commemorates and/or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event....
 of Responsible Government in 2006.

See also

  • List of New South Wales Government Agencies
    List of New South Wales government agencies

    Government in New South Wales is delivered by a number of agencies, grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by a minister appointed from the Parliament of New South Wales....
  • Local Government Areas of New South Wales
    Local Government Areas of New South Wales

    The Local Government Areas of Australia of New South Wales, Australia have been subject to periodic bouts of restructuring and rationalisation by the State Government, involving voluntary and involuntary amalgamation of areas....
  • Public Service Association of NSW
    Public Service Association of NSW

    The Public Service Association of NSW is a union which represents New South Wales Government, NSW university and related private sector employees....


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