Parliament has the power to make or unmake any law. Because New Zealand has one Parliament and is not federated (divided into separate states), and because the judiciary cannot strike down any laws Parliament makes, parliamentary sovereignty is stronger in New Zealand than in any other Westminster democracy. This means that the governing party led by the cabinet is very powerful. Passing laws under urgency, and foregoing the usual process of public consultation and submissions, is one demonstration of this power. In 2010 the government passed the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill under urgency in just three days.
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