New Zealand
House of Representatives
Law-making
Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities
Legislative activity
Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
61 (2021)
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Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
221 (2020)
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Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
16 (2020)
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Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
205 (2020)
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Dates of the previous legislature
07.11.2017 to 06.09.2020
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Executive-legislative relations
Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State
In some countries, the Constitution foresees that legislation adopted by parliament must be signed into law by the Head of State. If so, the Head of State may, for example, have the power to veto the legislation, return it to parliament, or submit it to another body such as a constitutional court.
Yes
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution Act 1986
Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
0 (2021)
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Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation
Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation: Not applicable; No further action is taken. The legislation is rejected; The legislation is returned to Parliament for re-examination; The legislation is referred to the Constitutional/Supreme Court;The legislation is put to a referendum; Other (please specify)
Other (please specify):
Not applicable. The Head of State cannot decline to give assent to legislation adopted by parliament
No
Notes
A refusal to assent would be a remarkable – indeed a unique – event in New Zealand. No bill presented to a Governor or a Governor-General has ever been refused the Royal assent in New Zealand.
Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree
Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree: Not applicable; Parliament; Head of State; Constitutional/Supreme Court; Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
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Notes
The Sovereign in right of New Zealand is the head of State of New Zealand. The Governor-General is the Sovereign's representative (see Constitution Act 1986, s 2). A Bill passed by the House of Representatives becomes law when the Sovereign or the Governor-General assents to it and signs it (see Constitution Act 1986, s 16). In Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, David McGee writes:
“A refusal to assent would be a remarkable—indeed a unique—event in New Zealand. No bill presented to a Governor or a Governor-General has ever been refused the Royal Assent in New Zealand …”.
“A refusal to assent would be a remarkable—indeed a unique—event in New Zealand. No bill presented to a Governor or a Governor-General has ever been refused the Royal Assent in New Zealand …”.
Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation
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Not applicable. There is no procedure to introduce emergency legislation.
No