Fcom111 Government Essay
Introduction
New Zealand is a country with a very special legal system. The New Zealand constitution is made of both legal documents: the laws that are written in document and others are unwritten laws- conventions. “In 1982, the Supreme court of Canada summarized the constitutional position in that country is an equation: constitutional conventions plus constitutional law equal the total constitution of the country”. (Keith, 2001) This equation is very true, and can be fitted in the condition of New Zealand’s constitution very well. It included both legal and conventions in this equation, and they are exactly what New Zealand’s constitution is made of. Firstly, this essay will smmarise New Zealand`s current constitutional arrangement; Then, talk about New Zealand changes to a republic country is desirable and New Zealand`s fixible constitution should be rigid; Finally, give some suggestions to encourage New Zealanders activly engage with the constitutional review process.
New Zealand current constitutional arrangement
“The constitution of a nation is the set of rules that govern how a government can exercise public power. A constitution identifies who or what institutions should exercise power and how they should do it. The government is usually the most powerful coercive force within a country, so the rules about how a government should exercise power are very important.” (Palmer, 2012) New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and it has a Westminster system of Government that is modelled after the government of the United Kingdom. This establishes that New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign and official head of state, represented by the Governor-General of New Zealand. The position is merely symbolic as the Queen has little power to affect the politics of New Zealand. The key thing to note about New Zealand's constitutional arrangement is that there is no 'written' constitution in the same sense as other countries
New Zealand is a country with a very special legal system. The New Zealand constitution is made of both legal documents: the laws that are written in document and others are unwritten laws- conventions. “In 1982, the Supreme court of Canada summarized the constitutional position in that country is an equation: constitutional conventions plus constitutional law equal the total constitution of the country”. (Keith, 2001) This equation is very true, and can be fitted in the condition of New Zealand’s constitution very well. It included both legal and conventions in this equation, and they are exactly what New Zealand’s constitution is made of. Firstly, this essay will smmarise New Zealand`s current constitutional arrangement; Then, talk about New Zealand changes to a republic country is desirable and New Zealand`s fixible constitution should be rigid; Finally, give some suggestions to encourage New Zealanders activly engage with the constitutional review process.
New Zealand current constitutional arrangement
“The constitution of a nation is the set of rules that govern how a government can exercise public power. A constitution identifies who or what institutions should exercise power and how they should do it. The government is usually the most powerful coercive force within a country, so the rules about how a government should exercise power are very important.” (Palmer, 2012) New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and it has a Westminster system of Government that is modelled after the government of the United Kingdom. This establishes that New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign and official head of state, represented by the Governor-General of New Zealand. The position is merely symbolic as the Queen has little power to affect the politics of New Zealand. The key thing to note about New Zealand's constitutional arrangement is that there is no 'written' constitution in the same sense as other countries