Preview

Fcom 111 Assi

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1781 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Fcom 111 Assi
Established in the Palace of Westminster in London, the British government system is the first and most well-known example of the Westminster model. However, in 1987 Arend Lijphart has stated “New Zealand has a special status among the world’s democracies as the purest example of the Westminster model of government”. 23 years has passed and many changes have taken place during those time but despite all, the New Zealand government system in 2010 is still an example of the Westminster model though no longer the “purest”. An easy way to assess the extent to which New Zealand is still a Westminster-type government is to first look into major changes happened after 1987 and then in to things that remained unchanged in the government system of the country. It is essential to have some idea about the Westminster government model first. The Westminster model, also called the majoritarian model, is a general model of democracy (Lijphart, 1999, p.9). There are many definitions for Westminster but this paper will follow the definition provided by Professor Chris Eichbaum (2010). The Westminster government model has six main features: the parliament is sovereign; the members of the Cabinet are also members of the Parliament; has a two-party dominant system in the parliament; use an electoral system that usually produces single-party majority government; members of the Cabinet have to have responsibility individually and collectively to the Parliament; and the public sector has to be independent of the Cabinet and politically neutral. And that is enough definition to move on to the specific case of New Zealand. Significant changes have taken place during 23 years in the government system of New Zealand. We will first study the electoral reform and then discuss about changes that have followed it. The transformation from the First-to-Past-the-Post (FPP) system to the Mixed-Member-Proportional (MMP) system was seen as the most important change in the government


References: Boston, J. (1996). New Zealand under MMP: a new politics?. Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University Press. Cabinet Manual: Principles of Cabinet Decision Making. (2008) Retrieved from http://www.cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/node/64#5.22 Code of conduct for the State Services. (2007) Retrieved from http://www.ssc.govt.nz/display/document.asp?DocID=7063 Dalziel, L. (2007, May). Cabinet under MMP. Speech presented at University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Elections New Zealand: From FPP to MMP. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.elections.org.nz/voting/mmp/history-mmp.html Elections New Zealand: 2008 election official results. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/resultsdata/2008-election-official-results.html Goldfinch, S. (1998). Evaluating public sector reform in New Zealand: Have to benefits been oversold?. Asian journal of public administration, 2 (20), 203-232. Lijphart, A. (1999). Patterns of democracy: government forms and performance in thirty-six countries. New Haven, USA: Yale University Press. New Zealand Parliament: Parliamentary parties. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/Parties/ New Zealand Parliament: Parliament Brief: What is Parliament? (2010). Retrieved from http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/HowPWorks/FactSheets/0/e/7/00HOOOCPubResAboutFactSheetsWhat1-Parliament-Brief-What-is-Parliament.htm New Zealand Parliament: Role of Parliament. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/HowPWorks/Role/6/b/3/6b3edec8013243e785cb6ecc1e6c8e6a.htm
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Legal Studies Summary Notes
    • 5906 Words
    • 24 Pages

    Legal Studies Summary Notes

    Representative government- means that the government must represent the views and interests of the people who voted them in. if they fail to do so then they will not be elected the next time, or could be kicked out of the parliament by the Governor General. Responsible government- the government must be answerable to the people and the parliament for its actions. If they fail to do so then they won’t be re-elected. Separation of power The power of government is divided into 3 main factions, Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. This is done so no-absolute person or body holds all the powers of the government and also so to prevent the parliament from possible abuse over power.    Legislature- is in chapter one of the commonwealth constitution, which is made up of the parliament members. They have the power to make laws. Executive- is in chapter two of the commonwealth constitution, made up of the Prime Minster and its Cabinet. They have the power to administer laws. Judiciary- is in chapter three of the commonwealth constitution, made up of the courts. They have the power to interpret and enforce laws.…

    • 5906 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Two Party System in Australia
    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Two Party System in Australia

    The Commonwealth Constitution does not govern in detail how members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are to be elected, nor could it dictate the number and strength of Australia’s national political parties and the dynamics of competition among them. The electoral and party systems have a profound impact on the political dynamics in Canberra, including the roles of the two houses of Parliament and the relations between them, so both are summarized here. Special attention is given to a development that has fundamentally affected the balance of power among the parties, the implementation of principles of responsible government, and the practical dynamics of politics in Parliament: the decision made in 1948 that thereafter Senators would be elected by proportional representation.…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Why Does the Trade Union Movement, Overall, in Australia, Support the Labor Party
    • 3539 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Why Does the Trade Union Movement, Overall, in Australia, Support the Labor Party

    References: Dow, G., & Lafferty, G. (2007). Decades of Disillusion: Reappraising the ALP-ACTU Accord 1983-1996. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 53(4), 552-568.…

    • 3539 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Two Party Preferred System in Australian Politics
    • 925 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Two Party Preferred System in Australian Politics

    The Australian political structure does have the potential for change. As loyalist numbers for the two main parties are shrinking (Scott, 2009) and political ideologies are becoming blurred. Fringe parties are slowly emerging giving people an alternative choice which is suggesting that perhaps voters are looking for options outside the dominance of the main two parties (Walsh, 1998). Nevertheless the…

    • 925 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Assess the strengths and weaknessess of the UK constitution
    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Assess the strengths and weaknessess of the UK constitution

    One strength of the UK constitution is that it is highly flexible and adaptable due to its uncodified nature, which allows constitutional arrangements to be altered in line with social and political changes. The rules of the constitution are not contained within a single document, unlike the United States’ constitution, which means that the ability to alter or remove statute laws, conventions or works of authority is far greater because no higher constitutional law is more difficult to change than ordinary law. It can evolve to meet the needs of the current times of the country and keep it from becoming dated. This is important since constitution can be changed quickly and efficiently if circumstances demand it. The relatively smooth transition of power from single part government to coalition government in 2010 shows that the constitution is flexible to cope with any form of government. The power of governments isn’t as tightly defined and limited as in countries with codified…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Effective Is Parliament in Carrying Out Its Representative Role?
    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Effective Is Parliament in Carrying Out Its Representative Role?

    In government the key stage of direct government representation comes from MP’s, these are the elected representatives from each of the constituencies who are voted into government in separate elections. The electoral system we have in the UK is debated whether it is a form of Parliament that is representative of its constituents. The first past the post system used in the UK is a system where the amount of votes gained within a constituency for a candidate has to have the most votes but not necessarily a majority. This then means the same for the amount of MPs who form parties, the amount of MPs voted in.Generally the party with a majority of constituencies can form a government but in the 2010 election a coalition has to be formed in the absence of a majority. Although this can be unfair to smaller parties this often creates strong government. Alternative vote (AV) is another electoral system by which voters place the candidates in their constituency in order of preference. After the count of first preference votes the candidate with least drops out and the second preference votes of those who voted for said candidate are redistributed. This process continues moving down preferences until a candidate has a…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The English Political System in the 1780s
    • 7456 Words
    • 30 Pages

    The English Political System in the 1780s

    Today power is exercised by the leaders of that political party which currently holds the greatest number of seats in the House of Commons. These seats are contested, usually at four- or five-year intervals, in general elections at which almost all persons of eighteen years and over are entitled to vote. The general election selects individuals. However, political party organization and discipline are so extensive that it is almost impossible for a candidate to be elected who does not represent a major party. In effect, individuals are elected in a party, not a personal capacity. When they get to Westminster they are expected to vote according to party loyalty rather than personal preference or conviction when these clash. A highly developed system of 'party whips' ensures that, in most instances, the Commons votes on party lines. Thus effective power is vested in the party rather than in a collection of individuals. Political parties are all-important. We even speak of a two-party system of government, implying that the struggle for power is between two leading parties in the state who alternate in government. Since the 1920s these have been the Conservative and Labour parties. Such a system was a recognizable feature of British political life in 1867, but not in 1780.…

    • 7456 Words
    • 30 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    The Affects of Post-Materialism on Canada
    • 2739 Words
    • 11 Pages

    The Affects of Post-Materialism on Canada

    Barker, P. (2006). Limits on the Power of the Prime Minister. M. Charlton & P. Barker, eds; Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues, 5th ed. , 180-213.…

    • 2739 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Canadian Party Discipline
    • 3485 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Canadian Party Discipline

    and Doreen Jackson. “Institutions – Parliamentary Reform?” Politics in Canada: Culture, Institutions, Behavior and Public Policy 6th edition. Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006: 342–344…

    • 3485 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Role Of Parliament In Canada's Democracy
    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Role Of Parliament In Canada's Democracy

    Since 1867, the Parliament of Canada has been the heart of Canada’s democracy. In fact, Parliament is the legislative branch of government in Canada with the lower house being the elected House of Commons and the upper house being the Senate. In Parliament, issues of the day are examined, the government is held accountable, and policies and laws are decided on. Although Canada has been a democracy for the last 150 years, Canada’s political institutions are in need of reform as distortion in representation at the House of Commons as well as the effectiveness of the senate are undermining Canada’s democracy. To be able to understand the extent of the issues in the legislative branch of government, it is important to know how each chamber operates…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    William E. Borah
    • 7031 Words
    • 29 Pages

    William E. Borah

    Bibliography: • Edited by Joel Krieger,The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World, second edition, Oxford University Press, 2001…

    • 7031 Words
    • 29 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Canada Responsible Government
    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Canada Responsible Government

    The notion for a domestic “Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom” is straightforward, but underlying it are these general norms. By convention, the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s executive power is self-sanctioned through responsible government – the need for the executive as simultaneously members of the legislature to be responsible to the voice of the people through a majority in the House of Commons. Subsequently, without exception, positivist decision-making and accountability ultimately lies in Cabinet in lieu of the MPs clamoring out of the ministerial spotlight. Cabinet oversees and administers the bureaucracy’s expertise; MPs, without this nonpartisan pool of expertise, are logically precluded from introducing any money bills. Little surprise that the number of Cabinet Ministers resigning due to maladministration, since Confederation, is at most two – having given away most of their unilateral executive powers, MPs can rarely pull back Cabinet without calling a new election. Responsible government vis-à-vis the system of ministerial responsibility ensures that there is always the duly-elected and doubly-selected Minister that remains responsible and answerable for all polices in the department and all executive actions, even by other…

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Political Science Paper
    • 2048 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Political Science Paper

    The two most common types of democratic governmental systems are Parliamentary systems and Presidential systems. For many years, people have studied the effectiveness of both and have given reasons why a certain country should obtain a certain form of government. Examples of two countries that use these systems are Canada and the United States. Canada uses a traditional parliamentary system, and the United States uses a presidential system. In this paper, I will focus on the strengths of a parliamentary system, and the weaknesses of a presidential system, to prove my argument. Canada is better off with a parliamentary system then a presidential system for many reasons. In order for my argument to be persuasive, I will explain the differences in the two. In comparison to a presidential system, a parliamentary system has more closure in making decisions, the parties that exist within the system tend to be stronger, and there is a responsible government, which allows for the government leader to be more actively involved with its citizens.…

    • 2048 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Legal Studies Notes
    • 37517 Words
    • 151 Pages

    Legal Studies Notes

    1 Principles of the Australian parliamentary system: Representative government, responsible government and the separation of powers…

    • 37517 Words
    • 151 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explain How And Why Is Power Divided In Australia Essay
    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Explain How And Why Is Power Divided In Australia Essay

    How and why is power divided in Australia? Is a good and commonly asked question by looking at the Australian Constitution, and federalization it is possible to understand how power is divided within Australia. Through the ideas of the three arms of government following the Montesquieu view, the Washminster hybrid, Westminster and Washington systems of government which all influence Australia’s political system to shape it to what we know it as today. One demonstrates why power is divided in Australia. By doing this it will be easy to see and understand why it is necessary for power to be divided in Australia and how it is done to form a responsible and representative government.…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics