New Zealand Parliament

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

Upper house

The New Zealand Parliament does not have an upper house — unlike many other legislatures, it is unicameral rather than bicameral. It did, however, have an upper house before 1951 (the Legislative Council), and there have been occasional attempts to create a new one.

Related Topics:
Upper house - Unicameral - Bicameral - 1951

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Legislative Council

Main article: New Zealand Legislative Council.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Legislative Council was intended to scrutinize 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. At first, MLCs were appointed for life, but a term of seven years was introduced in 1891. It was eventually decided that the Council was having no significant impact on New Zealand's legislative process, and it ceased to exist at the beginning of 1951. At the time of its abolition it had 54 members, including its own Speaker.

Related Topics:
1891 - 1951

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Senate proposal

The National government of Jim Bolger proposed the establishment of an elected Senate when it came to power in 1990, thereby reinstating a bicameral system, and a Senate Bill was drafted. Senators would be elected by STV, with a number of seats being reserved for Maori, and would have powers similar to those of the old Legislative Council. The House of Representatives would continue to be elected by FPP.

Related Topics:
National - Jim Bolger - Senate - 1990 - Bicameral - STV - Maori

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The intention 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 MMP, the Senate question was removed by the Select Committee on Electoral Reform, and the issue has not been pursued since.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~