Washminster

English

Etymology

Blend of Washington +‎ Westminster. Coined by political scientist Elaine Thompson in 1980.

Pronunciation

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈwɒʃmɪnstə/

Proper noun

Washminster

1. (politics) A political system which has elements of both the Westminster system and the United States' political system ("Washington").
   • 2005, A Passion for Politics: Essays in Honour of Graham Maddox:

     Having read Graham Maddox I can no longer complacently describe the Australian system as a Washminster mutation, nor as a successful system of representative democracy government, as I have in the past.

   • 2007, Stephen I. Levine, Nigel S. Roberts, The Baubles of Office: The New Zealand General Election of 2005:

     This has caused speculation that New Zealand is moving from a classic Westminster parliamentary system to a more parliamentary-congressional 'Washminster' hybrid.

   • 2017, Jong S. Jun, Development in the Asia Pacific: A Public Policiy Perspective, Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, →ISBN, page 479:

     The move toward the "Washminster" model identified in the early 1980s may be measured by shifts in several of these indicators.

Usage notes

• Almost always used to refer to the political system of Australia.

Translations

political system

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 華盛敏斯特變體 / 华盛敏斯特变体 (Huáshèng Mǐnsītè biàntǐ)

• Finnish: Washminster-järjestelmä
• French: please add this translation if you can