Government and the Department The system of government in the
Northern Territory is based on the “Westminster”, or English-
style, system that operates in many democracies throughout the
world. The NT is a Territory, rather than a State, so although
its system of government is similar to those of the States, it
has its own unique differences. Australia is a democratic
federal constitutional monarchy. The Northern Territory is one
of six sovereign states and two territories within the Federal
Commonwealth of Australia. The six states existed before the
Commonwealth but joined together in a Federation on 1 January
1901 to become a single nation. At the time, the land within the
Northern Territory was governed by the state of South Australia
and the ACT did not exist as a separate entity. The Federal
Constitution gave certain powers to the new Commonwealth of
Australia but the states remained separate sovereign states,
retaining responsibility for all other areas of activity not
ceded to the Commonwealth. Today t