(b) Yes. Although it is true to say that Australian governments are elected democratically, the head of the Commonwealth of Australia and of the various states is not elected but is a hereditary monarch.

The current monarch is King Charles III, who is also King of the United Kingdom. This illustrates how historical factors have shaped Australia's system of government.

Australia's governments are sometimes referred to as 'constitutional monarchies'. This indicates that while a monarch is the head of state, the way the country is to be governed is laid down in a set of laws called a constitution.