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j,K. blcLay Limited: Changing an Economy by Changing iLs Public Sector Page 3 • decisions of the courts (which make up what is known as the common law); and • recognised practices (sometimes described as "constitutional conventions"). Although New Zealand is fully independent, it has voluntarily accepted some limits on its autonomy. It has, for example, signed treaties committing it to a range of agreements on such issues as air travel, abolition of the death penalty, the terms of international trade and various environmental standards. Development of New Zealand's canstittition The beginning of constitutional government in New Zealand is commonly said to be the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In that year New Zealand became a British colony and the Parliament in Westminster acquired the power to make laws that applied in New Zealand. Over the next century, New Zealand gradually developed into an independent sovereign nation. This progression culminated in 1947 when New Zealand adopted the Statute of Westminster 1931 (UK) and the New Zealand Parliament became the country's supreme legislature. Interestingly, the Australian Constitution provides for New Zealand to become an Australian State, but New Zealand has never accepted this "offer". Nevertheless, the two countries have close ties; for instance the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Agreement (CER) is an important recent development. New Zealand Constitution Act 1986 The Constitution Act 1986 is the principal formal constitutional statement in New Zealand. It recognises Queen Elizabeth as New Zealand's head of state with aGovernor-General as her appointed Vice-Regal representative. The Governor-General is, effectively, the Head of State. The provisions in the Act relating to the the Executive (the Government) emphasise its Parliamentary character. Unlike some countries, only Members of Parliament can be appointed as Cabinet Ministers. Parliament -the Legislature -comprises the Sovereign and the House of Representatives. Until 1951 New Zealand also had an Upper House, the Legislative Council. Each Parliament has a term of three years, unless dissolved earlier. The Governor-General has formal powers to summon, prorogue (discontinue) and dissolve Parliament; but, by convention, only acts on these matters on the advice of the Prime