98-616: Official Opposition (34) Crossbench (21) The New Zealand Parliament ( Māori : Pāremata Aotearoa ) is the unicameral legislature of New Zealand , consisting of the Sovereign ( King-in-Parliament ) and the New Zealand House of Representatives . The King is usually represented by his governor-general . Before 1951, there was an upper chamber , the New Zealand Legislative Council . The New Zealand Parliament
196-577: A bill passed by the House, known as the granting of the Royal Assent , which is necessary for a bill to be enacted as law. The governor-general formally summons and dissolves Parliament—the latter in order to call a general election . In New Zealand the term parliament is used in a few different senses. Firstly, the term refers to the entire legislative branch consisting of the King (whose constitutional role in
294-625: A constitutional crisis . As a practical reality, because the Royal Assent to a bill must follow quickly after its passage by the House of Representatives, if there is any substantial issue about the constitutional validity of a bill, the issue must be considered by the attorney-general before the bill is introduced into the House. Parliament is currently in its 54th term. Official Opposition (New Zealand) The Official Opposition (formally His Majesty's Loyal Opposition ) in New Zealand
392-561: A libel case, Neil Hamilton , MP v The Guardian , collapsed as the High Court ruled that the Bill of Rights' total bar on bringing into question anything said or done in the House prevented The Guardian from obtaining a fair hearing . Hamilton could otherwise have carte blanche to allege any background or meaning to his words, and no contradicting direct evidence, inference, extra submission or cross-examination of his words could take place due to
490-694: A one-vote-per-person system. Originally the New Zealand Parliament remained subordinate to the British Parliament, the supreme legislative authority for the entire British Empire—although, in practice, Britain's role was minimal from the 1890s. The New Zealand Parliament received progressively more control over New Zealand affairs through the passage of Imperial (British) laws such as the Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865 , constitutional amendments, and an increasingly hands-off approach by
588-401: A Standing Orders meeting where the majority voted in favour of Te Pāti Māori 's submission calling for the elimination of neckties as part of Parliament's compulsory business attire. This announcement followed an argument between Mallard and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi , who had been ejected from Parliament for refusing to wear a neck tie in favour of Māori business attire. In 2024,
686-404: A credible government in waiting. For example, during Question Time , Opposition spokespersons will ask questions of ministers with the aim of highlighting a weakness or embarrassing the government. Oppositions also engage in parliamentary gestures such as refusal to grant confidence or voting down the budget . With the introduction of MMP in 1996 (after referendums in 1992 and 1993 ), there
784-403: A greater number of nominal votes than they actually contained voters – as an example, in 1927, Waipawa , a district without any urban population at all, received an additional 4,153 nominal votes to its actual 14,838 – having the maximum factor of 28% extra representation. The country quota was in effect until it was abolished in 1945 by a mostly urban-elected Labour government , which switched to
882-627: A later marriage). The Bill of Rights was later supplemented by the Act of Settlement 1701 , which was agreed to by the Parliament of Scotland as part of the Treaty of Union . The Act of Settlement altered the line of succession to the throne laid out in the Bill of Rights. However, both the Bill of Rights and the Claim of Right contributed a great deal to the establishment of the concept of parliamentary sovereignty and
980-407: A law. The first stage is the first reading , where MPs debate the bill in principle. It is normally sent to a select committee where the public has the opportunity to make submissions on the bill and the committee can recommend amendments to the bill. The select committee stage is followed by the second reading, where MPs again debate the bill in principle and the select committee recommendations. This
1078-642: A new one. The Legislative Council chamber continues to be used during the Opening of Parliament. This is in keeping with the British tradition in which the monarch is barred from entering the lower house. The original Legislative Council was created by the Charter for Erecting the Colony of New Zealand on 16 November 1840, which saw New Zealand established as a Crown colony separate from New South Wales on 1 July 1841. Originally,
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#17328448934701176-510: A simple majority, thus allowing the entrenched provisions of the Electoral Act to also be repealed by a simple majority. The monarch of New Zealand – currently King Charles III, represented in New Zealand by the governor-general , currently Dame Cindy Kiro – is one of the components of Parliament. This results from the role of the monarch to sign into law (i.e. give the Royal Assent to)
1274-476: Is also possible for individual MPs to promote their own bills, called members' bills ; these are usually put forward by opposition parties, or by MPs who wish to deal with a matter that parties do not take positions on. All bills must go through three readings in the House of Representatives before receiving the Royal Assent to become an act of Parliament (see lists of acts of the New Zealand Parliament ). Each bill goes through several stages before it becomes
1372-609: Is borrowed word for word from the Bill of Rights 1689. This subordination of the Crown (i.e. the executive government) to law is the foundation of the rule of law in the United Kingdom. It has its roots well before the war between the Crown and Parliament in the seventeenth century but was decisively confirmed in the settlement arrived at with the Glorious Revolution in 1688 and has been recognised ever since. Sir Edward Coke reports
1470-570: Is delivered to the governor-general by the clerk of the House of Representatives , who, assuming that constitutional convention is followed, will grant Royal Assent as a matter of course. Some constitutional lawyers, such as Professor Philip Joseph, believe the governor-general does retain the power to refuse Royal Assent to bills in exceptional circumstances—specifically if democracy were to be abolished. Others, such as former law professor and Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Professor Matthew Palmer argue any refusal of Royal Assent would cause
1568-427: Is followed by the committee of the whole house, where MPs debate individual clauses or parts and make amendments. In the third reading, MPs debate the final form of the bill. If a majority of MPs vote in favour of the bill at its third reading, the bill is passed. If a majority of MPs vote against the bill at any reading, the bill is rejected and goes no further through the process. If a bill passes its third reading, it
1666-511: Is not justiciable —it cannot be challenged by the judiciary . The ability of Parliament to act is, legally, unimpeded. For example, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 is a normal piece of legislation, not superior law, as codified constitutions are in some other countries. The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to regulate its own procedures. The House has " entrenched " certain issues relating to elections. These include
1764-454: Is usually the largest political party or coalition which is not a member of the ruling government —it does not provide ministers . This is usually the second-largest party in the House of Representatives , although in certain unusual circumstances it may be the largest party (due to a larger government bloc) or even a third or fourth party. The Official Opposition forms a shadow cabinet headed by
1862-535: The Acts of Union 1800 , provisions relating to the rights of Parliament implicitly extended to Ireland, but provisions relating to the rights of the individual were a grey area. Some jurists regarded the bill not as positive law but as declaratory of the common law , and as such applicable to Ireland. The Constitution of the Irish Free State , and the subsequent Constitution of Ireland , carry over laws in force in
1960-456: The British Library from March to September 2015. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised. which strongly echoes the first two "ancient rights and liberties" asserted in the Bill of Rights 1689: That the pretended power of suspending
2058-720: The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution which imposes this prohibition is a near-verbatim reproduction of the corresponding article in the Bill of Rights 1689. Similarly, " cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" is banned under Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Bill of Rights remains in statute and continues to be cited in legal proceedings in
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#17328448934702156-499: The Glorious Revolution to be an abdication of the throne. It listed twelve of James's policies by which James designed to "endeavour to subvert and extirpate the protestant religion, and the laws and liberties of this kingdom". These were: all of which were declared to be utterly and directly contrary to the known laws and statutes and freedom of the realm. In a prelude to the Act of Settlement to come twelve years later,
2254-615: The Governor-General to abolish a superannuation scheme established by the New Zealand Superannuation Act 1974, without new legislation. Muldoon felt that the dissolution would be immediate and he would later introduce a bill in parliament to retroactively make the abolition legal. This claim was challenged in court and the Chief Justice declared that Muldoon's actions were illegal as they had violated Article 1 of
2352-484: The Irish Patriot Party regarded this as illegitimate, and others felt that English acts only extended to Ireland when explicitly stated to do so, which was not the case for the Bill of Rights. The Crown of Ireland Act 1542 meant the Bill's changes to the royal succession extended to Ireland. Bills modelled on the Bill of Rights were introduced in the Parliament of Ireland in 1695 and 1697 but not enacted. After
2450-781: The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum in 2016, the Bill of Rights was cited by the Supreme Court in the Miller case , in which the court ruled that triggering EU exit must first be authorised by an act of Parliament, because doing so would abrogate rights secured by an Act of Parliament (namely, rights of EU citizens arising from the EU treaties given effect in UK law by the European Communities Act 1972 , as amended). It
2548-847: The United States Bill of Rights , the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights . Along with the Act of Settlement 1701 , it remains in effect within all Commonwealth realms , as amended by the Perth Agreement . During the 17th century, there was renewed interest in Magna Carta . The Parliament of England passed the Petition of Right in 1628 which established certain liberties for subjects. The English Civil War (1642–1651)
2646-457: The bills that have been passed by the House of Representatives. MPs must express their loyalty to the King and defer to his authority, as the Oath of Allegiance must be recited by all new parliamentarians before they may take their seat, and the official opposition is traditionally dubbed His Majesty's Loyal Opposition . The House of Representatives was established as a lower house and has been
2744-421: The executive . The New Zealand Government comprises a prime minister (head of government) and other ministers ; in accordance with the principle of responsible government , they are always selected from and accountable to the House of Representatives. Neither the monarch (currently King Charles III ) nor his governor-general participates in the legislative process, save for signifying the King's approval to
2842-524: The leader of the Opposition and comprising senior MPs with the same portfolio interests as the government's ministers. Unlike in the United Kingdom , where members of the shadow cabinet are called "shadow ministers," the members of New Zealand's shadow cabinet are called "opposition spokespeople." The Opposition aims to hold the government accountable and to present itself to the national electorate as
2940-533: The " Model Parliament " of 1295. Over the centuries, parliaments progressively limited the power of the monarchy ( constitutional monarchy ). The Bill of Rights 1688 (which has been ratified as law in New Zealand) established a system where parliaments would be regularly elected. Among its provisions, it set out parliament's role in taxation and supply . The Bill of Rights also confirmed the absolute privilege for freedom of speech in parliament. As early as 1846
3038-537: The 1890s, when the New Zealand Liberal Party was established as the first formal political party in New Zealand , political power shifted from the House of Representatives to elections, parties and leaders. The conservative Reform Party was formed in 1909, and the New Zealand Labour Party in 1916. The New Zealand National Party emerged in 1936 from the amalgamation of Reform and a remnant of
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3136-604: The 2023 Standing Orders introduced two new "scrutiny weeks" to the Parliamentary calendar, which allows select committees to scrutinise government and public sector spending plans. The first scrutiny week for the 2024 year was held between 17 and 21 June while the second is scheduled to be held on 2 and 6 December 2024. Based on the Westminster system , the New Zealand Parliament is supreme, with no other government institution able to override its decisions. As such, legislative action
3234-763: The Bill of Rights applies in Northern Ireland , reflecting earlier doubts as regards Ireland . The requirement that jurors be freeholders in cases of high treason was abolished in England and Wales by the Juries Act 1825 , and in Northern Ireland (to the extent it applied) by the Statute Law Revision Act 1950 . Natural justice , the right to a fair trial, is in constitutional law held to temper unfair exploitation of parliamentary privilege. On 21 July 1995
3332-476: The Bill of Rights barred Roman Catholics from the throne of England as "it hath been found by experience that it is inconsistent with the safety and welfare of this Protestant kingdom to be governed by a papist prince"; thus William III and Mary II were named as the successors of James II and that the throne would pass from them first to Mary's heirs, then to her sister, Princess Anne of Denmark and her heirs (and, thereafter, to any heirs of William by
3430-546: The Bill of Rights, which provides "that the pretended power of dispensing with laws or the execution of laws by regal authority ... is illegal." The Bill of Rights applies in England and Wales; it was enacted in the Kingdom of England which at the time included Wales. Scotland has its own legislation, the Claim of Right Act 1689 , passed before the Act of Union between England and Scotland. There are doubts as to whether, or to what extent,
3528-540: The British government. In 1947, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act , giving that parliament full power over New Zealand law, and the New Zealand Constitution Amendment Act 1947 , an act of the British Parliament, allowed the New Zealand Parliament to regulate its own composition. In 1973 a further amendment, the New Zealand Constitution Amendment Act 1973 , expanded
3626-590: The British settlers in New Zealand petitioned for self-government . The New Zealand Parliament was created by the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 , an act of the British Parliament , which established a bicameral legislature officially named the General Assembly, later commonly referred to as Parliament. It had a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called
3724-467: The Commons 23 Heads of Grievances, which the Commons approved and added some of their own. However, on 4 February the Commons decided to instruct the committee to differentiate between "such of the general heads, as are introductory of new laws, from those that are declaratory of ancient rights". On 7 February the Commons approved this revised Declaration of Right, and on 8 February instructed
3822-732: The Constitution and in legislation passed by the Commonwealth Parliament or State or Territory Parliaments. The ninth article, regarding parliamentary freedom of speech, was inherited by Federal Parliament in 1901 under section 49 of the Australian Constitution . It was incorporated into the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987 which "preserves the application of the traditional expression of this privilege, but spells out in some detail just what may be covered by
3920-518: The General Assembly. The Council was intended to scrutinise and amend bills passed by the House of Representatives, although it could not initiate legislation or amend money bills. Despite occasional proposals for an elected Council, members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) were appointed by the governor, generally on the recommendation of the prime minister. It was eventually decided that the Council
4018-560: The Government's legislative agenda. On occasion, the monarch may open Parliament and personally deliver the speech; for example, Queen Elizabeth II personally attended the Opening of Parliament in 1954 (to mark the legislature's centenary), and more recently in 1986 and 1990. MPs receive the Royal Summons to these events from the usher of the Black Rod , after the usher knocks on the doors of
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4116-514: The House of Representatives chamber that have been slammed shut, to illustrate the MPs' right to deny entry to anyone, including the monarch. Before any law is passed, it is first introduced in Parliament as a draft known as a bill . The majority of bills are promulgated by the government of the day. It is rare for government bills to be defeated (the first to be defeated in the 20th century was in 1998). It
4214-468: The Legislative Council consisted of the governor, colonial secretary and colonial treasurer (who comprised the Executive Council), and three justices of the peace appointed by the governor. The Legislative Council had the power to issue ordinances (statutory instruments). With the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 , the Legislative Council was reconstituted as the upper house of
4312-478: The Legislative Council. The members of the House were elected under the first-past-the-post (FPP) voting system, while those of the Council were appointed by the governor. The first members were sworn in on 24 May 1854 in Auckland. Initially, legislative councillors were appointed for life, but from the 1890s they were appointed for renewable seven-year terms. This change, coupled with responsible government (whereby
4410-515: The Liberals, the United Party . As of the 2023 general election , the current parties represented in the House of Representatives are National, Labour, Green , ACT , Te Pāti Māori , and New Zealand First . Labour Member of Parliament Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan was the longest-serving female MP (1967–1996) and was also the first MP to give birth while serving in office. National MP Ruth Richardson
4508-508: The Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 repealed Article 9 on "freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament" as part of a consolidation of the law on parliamentary privilege . The Bill of Rights is part of the laws of New Zealand. The Act was invoked in the 1976 case of Fitzgerald v Muldoon and Others , which centred on the purporting of newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Muldoon that he would advise
4606-415: The Parliament's sole house since 1951. Since the introduction of MMP in 1996 , the House consists of 120 members of Parliament (MPs), elected to a three-year term. Parliamentary elections use the mixed-member proportional (MMP) system, a hybrid of first-past-the-post and closed party-list proportional representation ; 71 MPs represent single-member electorates of roughly the same population, while
4704-670: The Select Committee on Electoral Reform. In 2010, the New Zealand Policy Unit of the Centre for Independent Studies proposed a Senate in the context of the 2011 referendum on MMP . They proposed a proportionally-elected upper house made up 31 seats elected using a proportional list vote by region, with the House of Representatives elected by FPP and consisting of 79 seats. A term of Parliament in New Zealand may not last more than three years. The Constitution Act 1986 outlines that
4802-741: The United Kingdom and a model for later, more general, statements of rights; these include the United States Bill of Rights , the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen , the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights , and the European Convention on Human Rights . For example, as with the Bill of Rights 1689, the US Constitution prohibits excessive bail and " cruel and unusual punishment "; in fact,
4900-521: The United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms , particularly Article 9 on parliamentary freedom of speech . Following the Perth Agreement in 2011, legislation amending the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement 1701 came into effect across the Commonwealth realms on 26 March 2015 which changed the laws of succession to the British throne. Australia does not have a formal Bill of Rights, although protections for human rights may be found in
4998-679: The United Kingdom in 1989 to celebrate the tercentenary of the Glorious Revolution. One referred to the Bill of Rights and the other to the Claim of Right. Both depict the Royal Cypher of William and Mary and the mace of the House of Commons , one also shows a representation of the St Edward's Crown and the other the Crown of Scotland . In May 2011, the Bill of Rights was inscribed in UNESCO 's UK Memory of
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#17328448934705096-454: The World Register recognising that: All the main principles of the Bill of Rights are still in force today, and the Bill of Rights continues to be cited in legal cases in the UK and in Commonwealth countries. It has a primary place in a wider national historical narrative of documents which established the rights of Parliament and set out universal civil liberties, starting with Magna Carta in 1215. It also has international significance, as it
5194-413: The advantage of the growth in printed pamphlets and support of the City of London , was able to temper some of the executive excess, intrigue and largesse of the government, especially the Cabal ministry who signed a Secret Treaty of Dover that allied England to France in a prospective war against oft-allies the Dutch Republic . It had already passed the Habeas Corpus Act 1679 , which strengthened
5292-407: The building in which the chamber is housed (normally Parliament House, Wellington ), and more generally still this building and the several other buildings in which MPs have their offices. The New Zealand Parliament is specifically modelled on the Westminster system of parliamentary representation , developed in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . This system can be traced back to
5390-402: The committee to put into a single text the Declaration (with the heads which were "introductory of new laws" removed), the resolution of 29 January and the Lords' proposal for a revised oath of allegiance. It passed the Commons without division. On 13 February the clerk of the House of Lords read the Declaration of Right, and the Marquess of Halifax , in the name of all the estates of
5488-463: The committee. After the 1990 election, the National government of Jim Bolger proposed the establishment of an elected Senate, thereby reinstating a bicameral system, and a Senate Bill was drafted. Under the Bill, the Senate would have 30 members, elected by STV , from six senatorial districts, four in the North Island and two in the South Island . Like the old Legislative Council it would not have powers to amend or delay money bills. The intention
5586-431: The considered view of himself and the senior judges of the time in The Case of Proclamations (1610) 12 Co. Rep. 74, that: the King by his proclamation or other ways cannot change any part of the common law, or statute law, or the customs of the realm and that: the King hath no prerogative, but that which the law of the land allows him. The position was confirmed in the first two parts of Section 1 of
5684-469: The convention that forbade detention lacking sufficient cause or evidence. Objecting to the policies of King James II of England (James VII of Scotland and James II of Ireland), a group of English Parliamentarians invited the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau (William of Orange) to overthrow the King. William's successful invasion with a Dutch fleet and army led to James fleeing to France. In December 1688, peers of
5782-473: The curtailment of the powers of the monarch. These have been held to have established the constitutional monarchy , and, along with the penal laws , settled much of the political and religious turmoil that had convulsed Scotland, England and Ireland in the 17th century. The Act reinforced the Petition of Right and the Habeas Corpus Act 1679 by codifying certain rights and liberties. Described by William Blackstone as Fundamental Laws of England ,
5880-415: The day, and by extension the prime minister, must achieve and maintain the support of the House in order to gain and remain in power. The Government is dependent on Parliament to implement its legislative agenda, and has always required the House's approval to spend money . The Parliament does not have an upper house ; there was an upper house up to 1951, and there have been occasional suggestions to create
5978-610: The former United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to the extent they were not repugnant to those constitutions. The Bill of Rights was not referred to in subsequent Irish legislation until the Statute Law Revision Act 2007 , which retained it, changed its short title to "Bill of Rights 1688" and repealed most of section 1 (the preamble) as being religiously discriminatory, which included: all words down to "Upon which Letters Elections having been accordingly made"; Article 7, which allowed Protestants to bear arms; and all words from "And they doe Claime Demand and Insist". The Houses of
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#17328448934706076-441: The government and received ministers but remained outside the Cabinet – further complicated the concept of 'opposition'. However, the continued dominance of the political scene by the National and Labour parties means that the Official Opposition has been retained, and inevitably the Official Opposition is whichever of the National and Labour parties is not leading a government at the time. Parties and members of parliament outside
6174-420: The government which do not work with the Official Opposition party are said to "sit on the cross-benches ". Grand coalitions have been formed only twice in New Zealand, and on both occasions with the aim of forming a national response to a crisis. The first was the War Cabinet of 1915–1919, involving the Reform and Liberal Parties, under the leadership of Reform Prime Minister William Massey . The second
6272-446: The governor-general is responsible for dissolving Parliament, which is done by royal proclamation . Dissolution ends a parliamentary term, after which the writ for a general election is issued. Upon completion of the election, the governor-general, on the advice of the prime minister, then issues a proclamation summoning Parliament to assemble. On the date given, new MPs are sworn in and then are, along with returning MPs, called to
6370-565: The laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant Reformed faith established by law. This replaced an oath which had deferred more to the monarch. The previous oath required the monarch to rule based on "the laws and customs ... granted by the Kings of England". The Declaration of Right was enacted in an Act of Parliament, the Bill of Rights 1689, which received royal assent in December 1689. The Act asserted "certain ancient rights and liberties" by declaring that: The Act declared James's flight from England following
6468-417: The laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal; That the pretended power of dispensing with laws or the execution of laws by regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal; And the Virginia Declaration's Section Nine, That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
6566-428: The legislative process is limited) and the House of Representatives. Secondly, it can mean each group of MPs voted into office following a general election. In this sense, the 1st Parliament sat from 24 May 1854 to 15 September 1855. The current Parliament , which started on 5 December 2023, is the 54th. Lastly, "Parliament" may also refer to a physical place: most specifically the debating chamber where MPs meet, also
6664-411: The length of a parliamentary term, deciding on who can vote, how they vote (via secret ballot ), how the country should be divided into electorates, and the make-up of the Representation Commission, which decides on these electorates. These issues require either 75% of all MPs to support the bill or a referendum on the issue. As the entrenchment mechanism is not entrenched itself, it could be repealed by
6762-442: The national ministry and its leader, Alfred Hindmarsh , declined a seat in the cabinet. The Labour Party currently form the Official Opposition. Below is a list of the shadow cabinets of New Zealand from 1965 to the present date. Bill of Rights 1688 The Bill of Rights 1689 (sometimes known as the Bill of Rights 1688 ) is an Act of the Parliament of England that set out certain basic civil rights and changed
6860-441: The old Legislative Council chamber, where they are instructed to elect their speaker and return to the House of Representatives to do so before adjourning. A new parliamentary session is marked by the Opening of Parliament , during which the governor-general reads the Speech from the Throne , on the King's behalf. This speech is given at the start of every new Parliament, and explains why Parliament has been assembled. It outlines
6958-405: The parliamentary chamber accessible to MP's children, giving carers and spouses the same security clearances as MPs, opening the Parliamentary swimming pool to the families of MPs and staff, and updating the family room to have baby-feeding and changing facilities, and a play area on Parliament's lawn. On 10 February 2021, Mallard announced that ties were no longer compulsory in Parliament following
7056-549: The parties in the House of Representatives according to the parties' strength in that House. Senators would serve for three-year-terms, and be eligible for reappointment. The Senate would have the power to revise, initiate or delay legislation, to hear petitions, and to scrutinise regulations and Orders in Council , but the proposal was rejected by the Prime Minister and by the Labour opposition, which had refused to nominate members to
7154-409: The premier advised the governor on Council appointments) and party politics , meant that by the 20th century, the government usually controlled the Council as well as the House, and the passage of bills through the upper house became a mere formality. In 1951, the Council was ended altogether, making the New Zealand legislature unicameral . The Council sat for the last time on 1 December 1950, before it
7252-674: The prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment and the right not to pay taxes levied without the approval of Parliament. Finally, it described and condemned several misdeeds of James II of England. The Bill of Rights received royal assent on 16 December 1689. It is a restatement in statutory form of the Declaration of Right presented by the Convention Parliament to William III and Mary II in February 1689, inviting them to become joint sovereigns of England , displacing James II , who
7350-421: The realm appointed William as provisional governor. It was widely acknowledged that such action was constitutional, if the monarch were incapacitated, and they summoned an assembly of many members of parliament. This assembly called for an English Convention Parliament to be elected, which convened on 22 January 1689. The proposal to draw up a statement of rights and liberties and James's violation of them
7448-634: The realm, asked William and Mary to accept the throne. William replied for his wife and himself: "We thankfully accept what you have offered us". They then went in procession to the Great Gate at Whitehall. In a ceremony in the Banqueting House , Garter King of Arms proclaimed them King and Queen of England, France, and Ireland, whereupon they adjourned to the Chapel Royal , with the Bishop of London preaching
7546-488: The remainder are list MPs . These MPs assemble to represent the people, pass laws and supervise the work of government. Members also form select committees of the House , appointed to deal with particular areas or issues. Ministers in the New Zealand Government are drawn from amongst the members of the House of Representatives (with the possible exception of brief periods following an election). The government of
7644-410: The remainder of seats are assigned to list MPs based on each party 's share of the total party vote. Māori were represented in Parliament from 1867, and in 1893 women gained the vote . Although elections can be called early, every three years Parliament is dissolved and goes up for reelection. Parliament is supreme over all other government institutions. The legislature is closely linked to
7742-419: The rights expressed in these Acts became associated with the idea of the rights of Englishmen . The Bill of Rights directly influenced the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights , which in turn influenced the Declaration of Independence . Although not a comprehensive statement of civil and political liberties, the Bill of Rights stands as one of the landmark documents in the development of civil liberties in
7840-434: The sermon. They were crowned on 11 April, swearing an oath to uphold the laws made by Parliament. The Coronation Oath Act 1688 had provided a new coronation oath, whereby the monarchs were to "solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this kingdom of England, and the dominions thereunto belonging, according to the statutes in parliament agreed on, and the laws and customs of the same". They were also to maintain
7938-624: The succession to the English Crown . It remains a crucial statute in English constitutional law . Largely based on the ideas of political theorist John Locke , the Bill sets out a constitutional requirement for the Crown to seek the consent of the people as represented in Parliament . As well as setting limits on the powers of the monarch , it established the rights of Parliament, including regular parliaments, free elections, and parliamentary privilege . It also listed individual rights, including
8036-468: The term 'proceedings in Parliament ' ". In Canada, the Bill of Rights remains in statute, although it has been largely superseded by domestic constitutional legislation. The ninth article on parliamentary freedom of speech remains in active use. The application of the Bill of Rights to the Kingdom of Ireland was uncertain. While the English Parliament sometimes passed acts relating to Ireland,
8134-671: The term of the 4th Parliament ; Māori men aged 21 and over, whether or not they owned property, could vote to elect four Māori members of the House of Representatives. The Māori electorates have lasted far longer than the intended five years. In 2002, the seats increased in number to seven. One historical speciality of the New Zealand Parliament was the country quota , which gave greater representation to rural politics. From 1889 on (and even earlier in more informal forms), districts were weighted according to their urban/rural split (with any locality of less than 2,000 people considered rural). Those districts which had large rural proportions received
8232-444: The territorial jurisdiction of New Zealand's parliament. In 1986 a new Constitution Act was passed, finally removing the power for the British Parliament to pass laws affecting New Zealand (which was by then only with New Zealand's consent), restating the few remaining provisions of the 1852 Act, consolidating the legislation establishing Parliament, and officially replacing the name "General Assembly" with "Parliament". Beginning in
8330-605: The tight strictures of the Bill of Rights. Equally, the House of Lords decided that, absent a 1996 statutory provision, the Bill of Rights' entrenched parliamentary privilege would have prevented a fair trial for Hamilton in the 2001 defamation action of Hamilton v Al-Fayed which went through the two tiers of appeal to like effect. That provision was section 13 of the Defamation Act 1996 , which permits MPs to waive their parliamentary privilege and thus cite and have examined their own speeches if relevant to litigation. Following
8428-744: Was a model for the US Bill of Rights 1789, and its influence can be seen in other documents which establish rights of human beings, such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. As part of the Parliament in the Making programme, the Bill of Rights was on display at the Houses of Parliament in February ;2015 and at
8526-592: Was cited again by the Supreme Court in its 2019 ruling that the prorogation of parliament was unlawful . The Court disagreed with the Government's assertion that prorogation could not be questioned under the Bill of Rights 1689 as a "proceeding of Parliament"; it ruled the opposite assertion, that prorogation "cannot sensibly be described as a 'proceeding in Parliament ' ", as it was imposed upon and not debatable by Parliament, and could bring "core or essential business of Parliament" to an end without debate. Two special designs of commemorative two pound coins were issued in
8624-462: Was consideration to remove the official role of the Opposition; with several parties outside the government, it was no longer clear which party, if any, was the Official Opposition. This is complicated more by parties which occasionally act with the government and at other times vote against it. The unusual positioning that developed after the 2005 election – in which minor parties supported
8722-454: Was established in 1854 and is one of the oldest continuously functioning legislatures in the world. It has met in Wellington , the capital of New Zealand , since 1865 and in its current building since 1922. The House of Representatives normally consists of 120 members of Parliament (MPs), though sometimes more due to overhang seats . There are 72 MPs elected directly in electorates while
8820-409: Was first made on 29 January 1689 in the House of Commons , with members arguing that the House "cannot answer it to the nation or Prince of Orange till we declare what are the rights invaded" and that William "cannot take it ill if we make conditions to secure ourselves for the future" in order to "do justice to those who sent us hither". On 2 February a committee specially convened reported to
8918-477: Was formally abolished on 1 January 1951. At the time of its abolition the upper house had fifty-four members, including its own speaker . Under the Constitution Act, legislative power was also conferred on New Zealand's provinces (originally six in number), each of which had its own elected provincial council. These provincial councils were able to legislate for their provinces on most subjects. New Zealand
9016-636: Was fought between the King and an oligarchic but elected Parliament, during which the notion of long-term political parties took form with the New Model Army Grandees and humble, leveller -influenced figures debating a new constitution in the Putney Debates of 1647. Parliament was largely cowed by the executive during the Protectorate (1653–1659) and most of the twenty-five years of Charles II's English Restoration from 1660. However, it, with
9114-455: Was having no significant impact on New Zealand's legislative process; its final sitting was on 1 December 1950. In September 1950, the National government of Sidney Holland set up a constitutional reform committee to consider an alternative second chamber, chaired by Ronald Algie . A report produced by the committee in 1952 proposed a nominated Senate , with 32 members, appointed by leaders of
9212-531: Was never a federation comparable to Canada or Australia; Parliament could legislate concurrently with the provinces on any matter, and in the event of a conflict, the law passed by Parliament would prevail. Over a twenty-year period, political power was progressively centralised, and the provinces were abolished altogether in 1876. New Zealand had representatives of the indigenous population in its parliament from an early date, in contrast to many other colonial states. Reserved Māori seats were created in 1867 during
9310-585: Was stated to have abdicated and left the throne vacant. In the United Kingdom , the Bill is considered a basic document of the uncodified British constitution , along with Magna Carta , the Petition of Right , the Habeas Corpus Act 1679 and the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 . A separate but similar document, the Claim of Right Act 1689 , applies in Scotland . The Bill was one of the models used to draft
9408-996: Was the Coalition Government of 1931–1935 to combat the Great Depression , between the United Party (successor to the Liberal Party) and the Reform Party, and led by United leader George Forbes . In both cases, Labour formed the official Opposition against these governments. Before the Labour Party was formed in July 1916 there was a combined caucus of two parties (the United Labour Party and Social Democratic Party ) as well as several labour aligned independents. The Labour caucus decided to maintain its independence by not joining
9506-551: Was the first MP to bring her baby into the debating chamber while fellow National MP Katherine Rich was the first MP to feed her baby in the House. During the 1990s, a child care centre was established for the children of MPs and parliamentary staff. In November 2017, the Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard announced that Parliament would becoming more "baby friendly." Family friendly policies have included making an atrium near
9604-500: Was to include a question on a Senate in the second referendum on electoral reform . Voters would be asked, if they did not want a new voting system, whether or not they wanted a Senate. However, following objections from the Labour opposition, which derided it as a red herring , and other supporters of the mixed-member proportional (MMP) representation system, the Senate question was removed by
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