Our framework: powers of our Head of State
In this recent post, I introduced our draft policy statement. This was something the Executive has developed, following agreement at our last AGM, and I'm now summarising it for the benefit of our blog readers. The full document can be read on the Movement's page dedicated to its policies here.
I'm summarising the document in two series of posts. This is my third post of the first series summarising our framework for an NZ republic. It follows on from the second post in my series here. I follow the same format of it by describing the relevant part of our framework before including, in italics, a description of why we've adopted that part.
3. Powers of our Head of State
We call for the Head of State to have the same functions and powers as the Queen and our Governor General have presently. These are commonly known as the reserve powers and include dissolving Parliament, granting assent to legislation and issuing writs for elections. Since there is a lack of certainty about these powers, we ask that it is considered whether they be made explicit through codification at the creation of a New Zealand republic.
The lack of certainty about the Governor General's powers makes it important that we describe what powers we believe our Head of State should have. That said, we feel only a suitably appointed and empowered body can adjudicate on what exactly these powers are. We suggest that the Constitutional Commission, which I'll properly describe in my series of posts on our process for becoming a republic, represents an appropriate body. We propose it be asked to consider whether the powers of our Head of State are codified in the transition to a republic.
The fourth and final post in this series can be read here.
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