Lyla Lindsey
Australia and the United States have a unique relationship, with a breadth, depth and length characterised by cultural similarities and a spirit of collaboration. Both countries share a common ancestry and history, having both been British colonies with native peoples who were dispossessed of their land by the process of colonisation. They are predominantly English-speaking, with similar systems of government, and are representative democracies. Both countries are first-world with most of their populations identifying with the Christian faith. They have also been involved in military alliances, including the ANZUS Treaty, which binds them to consult on mutual threats.
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What You'll Learn
Democracy and meritocracy
Australia and the United States are both democracies, which means that eligible citizens have the right to vote for candidates to represent them and govern the country on their behalf. Both countries have a Senate that represents the states equally, with two senators per state in the US and 12 per state in Australia. Senators in both countries serve six-year terms, and all legislation must be passed by both houses of parliament.
The US and Australia also have written constitutions that outline the powers of the federal government, and independent judiciaries that interpret the constitution and act as a final court of appeals. The US Constitution came into effect in 1789, while Australia's political system is based on the Westminster System from the United Kingdom. Australia's constitution, the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, was passed in 1900.
While both countries are federal systems, there is a key difference in that the US is a republic, while Australia is a constitutional monarchy. In the US, the President is both head of state and head of government and is directly elected by the people. In Australia, the British monarch is the head of state and is represented by a Governor-General chosen by the Prime Minister.
In terms of meritocracy, both countries value hard work and a results-oriented approach. Australians and Americans are known for their strong work ethic and focus on performance and efficiency.
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Defence and security cooperation
In recent years, the ANZUS Treaty has been invoked for joint efforts in the War on Terror, specifically the invasion of Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks. Australia has also been a key ally in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, even when ANZUS was not formally invoked.
The two countries have a robust intelligence-sharing relationship, which has helped improve security in both nations. They are also part of the Five Eyes espionage and intelligence alliance, along with three other Anglosphere countries.
In 2020, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) approved $3.57 billion in Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) licenses for the permanent export of US defence articles and services to Australia. Australia is one of two countries with a Defense Trade Cooperation Treaty with the US, allowing for the license-free export of certain defence articles to support combined military operations and cooperative defence research.
The Australia-United States Alliance and the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) are central to the bilateral relationship, enhancing defence and security cooperation. The Alliance provides Australia with access to world-leading defence hardware and technologies, training, combined exercises, and vital intelligence capabilities. It also enables joint efforts against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In 2021, the US, UK, and Australia signed the AUKUS agreement, a trilateral security partnership. This agreement seeks to deepen cooperation, share intelligence, and help Australia build nuclear-powered submarine capabilities in response to China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia's 2020 Defence Strategic Update supports a robust US presence in the Indo-Pacific and plans to increase defence capabilities for independent operations. Australia is committed to growing its defence budget, providing significant funding for defence and supporting thousands of jobs in the US defence industry.
While there is broad support for the alliance among Australians, there are also diverse views, with some seeking greater independence and others expressing scepticism about the benefits of the current arrangement.
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Large land masses
Australia and the United States share similarities as large land masses. Both countries have a large amount of space and a relatively small population in comparison. This has led to both countries having a culture of exploration and expansion, with Australians and Americans often described as adventurous and pioneering.
Both countries also share similarities in their history and ancestry. They were both settled by Europeans, predominantly from the British Isles, and both have native populations who were dispossessed of their land during the process of colonisation. The shared ancestry of the two countries has led to cultural similarities, including a predominantly English-speaking population.
The large land masses of Australia and the United States have resulted in a need for robust defence and security cooperation. Both countries have a strong alliance, with Australia benefiting from access to US defence hardware and technology, as well as joint training exercises and vital intelligence capabilities. This cooperation is founded on shared interests and values, including a commitment to democracy and meritocracy.
The size of the two countries has also influenced their economies, with both Australia and the United States having extensive trade and investment links. These economic ties create jobs and opportunities for Australians and Americans, with collaboration across various industries, including defence, security, and tourism.
In summary, the large land masses of Australia and the United States have shaped their cultures, histories, defence strategies, and economic relationships. The size of these countries has influenced their domestic and international policies, as well as their relationships with each other and the rest of the world.
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English-speaking
Australia and the United States share a common language—English. However, there are some notable differences in how the language is used in each country. Australians are known for their love of abbreviations and informality in speech, often shortening words and using colloquialisms. For example, terms like "g'day" and "mate" are commonly used in Australia, which may sound strange to Americans. On the other hand, an Australian trying to adopt American sports jargon or business jargon in the US might sound out of place.
The accent and terminology are not the only differences in language use between the two countries. Australians have a strong sense of fair play, and criticizing competitors is considered bad form in business. Americans, on the other hand, are more open to running down their competitors, which can offend the Australian sense of fairness. Australians also tend to be more relaxed and casual in their communication style, and they have a dry and perverse sense of humour, often saying the opposite of what they mean. Americans, on the other hand, have a more explicit and direct communication style, and irony may not always be understood.
Despite these differences in language usage and style, both countries share a strong cultural affinity and collaboration across various fields, including defence, security, trade, investment, education, and tourism. They also have a robust bilateral relationship, with frequent ministerial consultations and cooperation on foreign policy, intelligence, development, and other areas.
Both countries also share some common ancestry and history, having been British colonies and experiencing native dispossession of land through colonisation. They have also been allies in various wars and are part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Additionally, both Australia and the United States have federal systems of government with roots in the British system of law and government, and they share some similarities in their political processes, such as having a Senate and a written constitution.
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Separation of powers
Australia and the United States have similar political systems, with both being federal systems with a written constitution that delineates the powers of the federal government. Both countries have a parliament composed of two houses: a House of Representatives and a Senate.
The separation of powers is a key principle in both countries, dividing the institutions of the government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. In Australia, this is influenced by the text and structure of the Australian Constitution, which in turn is influenced by democratic concepts embedded in the Westminster system, the doctrine of "responsible government", and the United States' version of the separation of powers.
The Australian Constitution was drafted between 1898 and 1900, with the primary aim of uniting the six colonies into one nation. The committee agreed that separate government powers would be broken into three branches, providing checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. The states could retain their own systems of government, with a separate federal government formed to manage laws affecting the entire nation. Similarly, in the United States, the separation of powers was established at the Constitutional Convention held in 1787, which led to the drafting of the US Constitution.
In Australia, the legislature makes the laws, the executive puts the laws into operation, and the judiciary interprets the laws, all independently of each other. However, due to the conventions of the Westminster system, a strict separation of powers is not always evident, with little separation between the executive and the legislature. The executive is required to be drawn from and maintain the confidence of the legislature. In contrast, the United States has a distinct separation of powers, with the executive branch of the government independent of Congress, and no person may be a member of Congress and a minister simultaneously.
In both countries, the Senate represents the states, with the High Court in Australia and the Supreme Court in the United States acting as the judicial interpreter of the Constitution and the federal government's legislation.
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Frequently asked questions
Both countries have a Senate that represents the States equally, with Senators serving 6-year terms. They also have written constitutions that outline the powers of the Federal Government and an independent judiciary. Additionally, both Australia and the United States have a system of government that includes a separation of powers and a lower and upper house.
Australia and the United States share common ancestry and history, having both been British colonies. Both countries predominantly speak English and have similar birth rates. They also share a spirit of collaboration and cultural affinity, with strong bilateral ties.
Australia and the United States have a long history of military cooperation, dating back to World War I and solidified through the ANZUS Treaty in 1951. They have collaborated in various military endeavours, including the Vietnam War and the War on Terror. Both countries are committed to working together to advance shared interests in defence and security.
