<P> The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are formally appointed by the Governor - General (who is the Queen's viceregal representative in New Zealand). In practice, the Governor - General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister in appointing ministers . Cabinet ministers are drawn from elected members of the Prime Minister's party in the House of Representatives . A few more ministers (usually junior or supporting) are part of the Executive Council but outside Cabinet . Most ministers have a portfolio of specific responsibilities such as departments or policy areas, although ministers without portfolio are sometimes appointed . </P> <P> The term Government of New Zealand can have a number of different meanings . At its widest, it can refer collectively to the three traditional branches of government--the executive branch, legislative branch (the Queen - in - Parliament and House of Representatives) and judicial branch (the Supreme Court and subordinate courts). Each branch operates independently of the others in an arrangement described as "separation of powers". </P> <P> More commonly, the term is used to refer to the Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to a particular political party (or coalition of parties) with a large number of seats sufficient to win important votes (e.g. the vote to accept the budget each year). The largest party or coalition will form a Cabinet--this is the sense intended when it is said that a political party "forms the government". The Constitution Act 1986, the principle part of New Zealand's constitution, locates the executive government in the Executive Council, which may include ministers outside Cabinet . </P> <P> The executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings, commonly called the "Beehive" because of the building's shape, houses many government offices and is also where the Cabinet meets . Thus the name Beehive is sometimes used metonymically to refer to the New Zealand Government . </P>

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