New Zealand Parliament

The New Zealand Parliament is the legislative body of the New Zealand government.

Related Topics:
Legislative body - New Zealand - Government

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Technically, the term "Parliament" encompasses both the monarch and the normally 120-member House of Representatives, but to most people, "Parliament" refers to the House of Representatives alone. Under the Constitution Act 1986, this usage became formal.

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Originally, as specified in the British New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, the New Zealand had a bicameral Parliament, with the House of Representatives as the lower house and the Legislative Council as the upper house. Since the abolition of the Legislative Council in 1951 the Parliament has been unicameral.

Related Topics:
Bicameral - Lower house - Legislative Council - Upper house - 1951 - Unicameral

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New Zealand essentially follows the Westminster System of government.

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