Industrialized countries around the world have seen a steady decline in voter turnout; Britain is a great example of this. The country has seen voter turnout slowly decline over time. However, the 2001 elections caused the country's average voter turnout to drop from 76% to just 59.4%. In comparison, Australia, a former British colony, has enjoyed consistently high voter turnout since 1924 thanks to the implementation of compulsory voting. This system has proven not only effective in getting voters to the polls, but also in improving Australian democracy. By evaluating these two countries with similar political structures; we can see the difference between participation in compulsory voting and participation in voluntary voting. Furthermore, if Britain were to follow Australia's example, would the country experience the same positive effects of compulsory voting in its democracy? Australia is a constitutional monarch with Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain as its head of state. Politically, the country is structured on the British and American model of liberal democracy. The constitution created in 1901 "gives the federal government power over defense, foreign affairs, commerce, taxation, customs and excise duties, pensions, immigration and postal services, while other powers are held by the states” (“The Political Structure of Australia”, 2011). Additionally, Australia consists of a lower house and an upper house. The lower house, the House of Representatives, has 150 members each elected for a three-year term ("Australia's Political Structure", 2011). The upper house, the Senate, has 76 members elected directly by proportional representation for a six-year term ("Austral...... middle of paper ......tp://www.international. mq.edu .au/macquarie/australia/politicsBennet, Scott (31 October 2005). Compulsory voting in national elections in Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2011 from http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs. -06/06rb06.pdf Birch, Sarah (2009). Full Participation A Comparative Study of Compulsory Voting. Manchester, United Kingdom: Manchester University Press. Clarke, H., Sanders, D., Stewart, M., & Whitely, P. (2001). Britain (not) in the elections, 2001. Political Science and Politics 36(1), 59-64). The British political system. London, Great Britain: Lawrence & Wishart. Hill, L.E., & Louth, Jonathan (2005). Compulsory voting in Australia: participation with and without it. -37. http://www.australianreview.net.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/archive.html