New Zealand
House of Representatives
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Unicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Law-making
Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities
Legislative activity
- Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
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75(2023)
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Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
“Legislature” refers to the full period between the first session of a new legislature until it’s dissolution.
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221(2020-11 - 2020-12)
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Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
In some cases other entities have the right to initiate legislation in national parliaments – such as citizens, autonomous regions, and other high-level government institutions.
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16(2020-11 - 2020-12)
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Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
In some cases other entities have the right to initiate legislation in national parliaments – such as citizens, autonomous regions, and other high-level government institutions.
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205(2020-11 - 2020-12)
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Percentage of laws initiated by parliament in the previous legislature
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of the laws adopted that were initiated by parliament by the total number of laws adopted in the previous legislature.
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7%(2020-11 - 2020-12)
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Dates of the previous legislature
Refers to the full period between the first session of a new legislature until it’s dissolution
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07 Nov 2017 to 06 Sep 2020(2020-11 - 2020-12)
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Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
For bicameral parliaments: Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislationNot applicable; The legislation cannot be adopted unless both chambers agree; The decision of the lower chamber will take effect after a certain deadline; The decision of the upper chamber will take effect after a certain deadline; Other (please specify) For bicameral parliaments: Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
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No information available
Executive-legislative relations
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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.
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Yes
Sources: Constitution Act 1986
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Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
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.
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0(2023)
Notes: By convention, bills are always granted assent.
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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)
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Other
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.
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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)
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Other
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 …”.
Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation
Click for historical data
Notes:
A Minister may move, without notice, for the House to accord Urgency or Extraordinary Urgency to business before the House.
Figures refer to the number of times bills were introduced with urgency or urgency was used to hold the first reading before the normal three-day wait.
Sources: Standing Orders 55-59