. You probably know that our system contains three main elements: the Parliament; the Executive and the Judiciary. The separation of powers between these three institutions provides a very important protection for people.
And the rule of law makes up a critically important element in any democracy. The Cabinet is the major decision-making body. It sets the priorities – it proposes legislation, taxation and policies to Parliament.
It is accountable to the House of Representatives and to the electorate every three years. In our system, the executive is too big and too powerful. It dominates the Parliament too easily and there are not enough checks and balances in the New Zealand system.
New Zealand is an executive paradise, not a democratic paradise. There are 123 MPs in the present Parliament and 30 of them are in the Executive. That is 24.
1% of the whole House. Given that the Executive is accountable to Parliament that seems too many ministers – a cabinet of 20 ministers should be sufficient. Cabinet ministers are all paid more than ordinary MPs.
Political parties have an important role to perform in governance. They select candidates to represent their party in elections. They raise funds to support the party.
They help get out the vote. They decide the policies upon which the party will campaign at election time. As young people who have joined a political party, you have all taken a positive step.
I want to encourage you to be active in discussing policies that will im.