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New Zealand functions as a Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliament ary system of government. The basic system is closely patterned on that of the Westminster Parliament Of The United Kingdom , although a number of significant modifications have been made. The Head Of State is Queen Elizabeth II , but actual government is conducted by a Prime Minister and Cabinet drawn from an elected Parliament .


CONSTITUTION

See Also: New Zealand constitution



New Zealand has no formal, written Constitution ; the constitutional framework consists of a mixture of various documents (including certain acts of the United Kingdom and New Zealand Parliaments), the Treaty Of Waitangi and Constitutional Convention s. Most constitutional provisions became consolidated into the Constitution Act 1986 . There have, at times, been proposals for a formal constitution, but there have not yet been any serious moves to adopt one.


MONARCHY


See Also: Queen of New Zealand



New Zealand's Head Of State is the Queen Of New Zealand , currently Elizabeth II . The New Zealand monarchy has been distinct from the British Monarchy since the New Zealand Royal Titles Act of 1953, and all Elizabeth II's official business in New Zealand is conducted in the name of the Queen of New Zealand, not the Queen of the United Kingdom. In practice, the functions of the monarchy are conducted by a Governor-General , appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. As of 2004, the Governor-General is Dame Silvia Cartwright .

See Also: Republicanism in New Zealand




EXECUTIVE

, MP, Prime Minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party]]
The Cabinet , which is responsible to Parliament , exercises Executive Authority . (The Cabinet forms the practical expression of a formal body known as the Executive Council .) The Prime Minister , as the Leader of the political party or coalition of parties holding the majority of seats in the House of Representatives, leads the Cabinet. All Cabinet Ministers must be Members Of Parliament (MPs) and are collectively responsible to it.

  "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Queen_Elizabeth_II_of_the_United_Kingdom" class="copylinks">Elizabeth II
  "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/6_February" class="copylinks">6 February 1952
  "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Governor-General_of_New_Zealand" class="copylinks">Governor-General
  Dame "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Silvia_Cartwright" class="copylinks">Silvia Cartwright
  "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/4_April" class="copylinks">4 April 2001
  "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Prime_Minister_of_New_Zealand" class="copylinks">Prime Minister
  "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Helen_Clark" class="copylinks">Helen Clark
  "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/New_Zealand_Labour_Party" class="copylinks">Labour
  "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/5_December" class="copylinks">5 December 1999