The Australian Commonwealth
The trend of government seems to be toward republicanism. One of the most notable events of last year was the revolution in Brazil, by which an empire became a republic. It looked at one time as though Portugal and Spain would follow, but their time of action, which will certainly come, was postponed. The most notable event of the present year is the formation of the great south sea federation of States,—"The Australian Commonwealth." An English paper remarks: "The name chosen is significant and shows that the new constitution is on the American rather than on the Canadian model." The colonies are to be called States. The law-making power is vested in a Congress, or Parliament, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The executive is the queen, or her representative, the governor-general. The Senate consists of eight members from each State, chosen by the Parliaments of State, for six years, half retiring every three years. The president of the Senate is chosen by that body. The members of the House of Representatives are elected every three years, on the basis of population, as in this country, but no State shall have less than four. The government is very near to the government of the United States. A British journal remarks: "This constitution makes the colonies a democratic federation, and is sweeping in the internal changes which will follow." It differs from the federal government of America in that it controls the telegraphic service and regulates marriage and divorce.