Department for Communities and Social Inclusion

Government of South Australia

Emblem of the South Australian Government and its agencies
Coat of arms of the State of South Australia, used for formal and ceremonial purposes.
Formation	1856 as responsible Colonial government; 1901 as an Australian state
Australian state	South Australia
Website	http://www.sa.gov.au/
Legislative branch
Legislature	Parliament of South Australia; SA Legislative Council SA House of Assembly
Meeting place	Parliament House
Executive branch
Main organ	Cabinet of South Australia
Leader	Premier
Appointer	Governor
Meeting place	Parliament House
Judicial branch
Court	Supreme Court
Seat	Adelaide

The Government of South Australia, also referred to as the South Australian Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of South Australia. The Government of South Australia, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, was formed in 1856 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended from time to time. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, South Australia has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Constitution of Australia regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution, South Australia ceded legislative and judicial supremacy to the Commonwealth, but retained powers in all matters not in conflict with the Commonwealth.

South Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of South Australia, which consists of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, represented by the governor of South Australia, and the two Houses, the South Australian Legislative Council and the South Australian House of Assembly, with general elections held every four years.

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 South Australia and the cabinet, who are appointed by the governor, but who hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the House of Assembly.