The leader of the party or coalition with the confidence of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly forms government.

Unlike the Australian states and the Northern Territory, the Legislative Assembly directly elects one of their number to be the Chief Minister as the head of the government, rather than being appointed by a Governor or Administrator.

Following the 2024 ACT election, Labor formed a minority government of 10 members, after the Greens moved to the crossbench and dissolved the coalition that had been in place since 2012.

[5] The ACT has internal self-government, but Australia's Constitution does not afford the territory government the full legislative independence provided to Australian states.

As of November 2020[update], there are nine directorates:[8] The ACT Government also has a number of public authorities and territory-owned corporations:[9] The following are officers of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly: