In Australia, the three branches of government are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Constitution divides power between them so laws are made, carried out, and interpreted separately.

What each branch does

  • Legislative branch : makes the laws. In Australia, this is the Parliament.
  • Executive branch : puts the laws into action and runs day-to-day government administration.
  • Judicial branch : interprets the laws and decides legal disputes through the courts.

Simple way to remember it

  • Legislative = makes the law.
  • Executive = enforces the law.
  • Judicial = judges the law.

One extra note

Australia also has three levels of government — federal, state/territory, and local — which is different from the three branches.