Who runs the country? Government in New Zealand Explained

Summary

This video script delves into New Zealand's political system, highlighting the roles of the executive, legislature, and judiciary in governing the country. It explains how the government is formed through parliamentary elections and the concept of parliamentary sovereignty. The script contrasts New Zealand's unitary and unicameral system with the U.S.'s federal and bicameral structure, emphasizing the efficiency of law-making in New Zealand. It raises the question of whether the current system is the best for the country, inviting viewers to consider the pros and cons of different governmental structures.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The term 'government' in New Zealand can refer to the state as a whole or more commonly, the parties in control of the majority of parliamentary seats.
• 🤔 The country's government structure is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary, to prevent authoritarian rule and ensure a balance of power.
• 👩‍⚖️ Parliamentary sovereignty in New Zealand means that democratic laws passed by Parliament are the supreme law of the land, even over the Queen or the courts.
• 🗳️ The executive branch, often equated with the government, is led by the Prime Minister and is responsible for daily decision-making and proposing laws.
• 🏢 The executive includes the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, and various ministries, as well as entities like the police and defense forces.
• 🌐 New Zealand operates as a unitary government, with a central authority managing the entire country, unlike the federal system in the U.S.
• 📜 The legislature, or Parliament, is responsible for creating laws through debating and voting on bills, and for holding the executive accountable.
• 👨‍⚖️ The judiciary interprets and applies laws through the court system, and can review the actions of the executive to ensure legal compliance.
• ⚖️ New Zealand's unicameral parliamentary system allows for quicker political decisions compared to the U.S.'s bicameral system, which can be slower due to needing approval from both chambers.
• 🤨 The video concludes by posing the question of whether New Zealand's system of government is the best for the country or if there could be improvements.

Q & A

What is the basic definition of government according to the script?

The Oxford Dictionary defines government as the group of people responsible for controlling a country or state.

What does the term 'government' usually refer to in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, 'government' commonly refers to the parties that have the most seats in parliament and effectively run the country.

What are the three branches of New Zealand's government?

The three branches of New Zealand’s government are the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.

What is parliamentary sovereignty in New Zealand?

Parliamentary sovereignty means that parliament’s democratic laws reign supreme, and neither the queen nor the prime minister can create laws on their own.

What is the role of the executive branch in New Zealand?

The executive, headed by the prime minister, is responsible for making day-to-day decisions and proposing laws in parliament. It includes the prime minister, cabinet ministers, ministries, police, and defense forces.

What does 'unitary government' mean in the context of New Zealand?

A unitary government means that New Zealand has one central government running the country, with local councils managing regional matters.

What is the main role of the legislature in New Zealand?

The legislature's main role is to debate and make new laws, as well as hold the executive government accountable and represent the people.

What is the function of the judiciary in New Zealand?

The judiciary interprets and applies laws passed by parliament, reviews executive actions to ensure legality, and handles legal cases.

How does New Zealand's political system compare to the U.S.?

New Zealand has a unicameral parliament, while the U.S. has a bicameral legislature (Senate and House of Representatives). New laws in the U.S. must pass both chambers, which can cause delays.

Why does political decision-making tend to be quicker in New Zealand compared to the U.S.?

Political decisions are made quicker in New Zealand because it has a unicameral system, so laws don't have to pass through multiple chambers, unlike the U.S. bicameral system.