constitutional link to Britain of New Zealand's Parliament was removed in 1986 by the Constitution Act 1986 (effective 1 January 1987). This Act removed the residual power of the United Kingdom Parliament to legislate for New Zealand at its request and consent. The Imperial Laws Application Act 1988 clarified the application of British laws in New Zealand. In 1996, New Zealand created its own royal honours system (including knighthoods and damehoods). The honours retained the Victoria Cross but ceased appointments to British imperial honours. With few exceptions, all honours and awards were conferred by the Queen of New Zealand on the advice of her New Zealand ministers. Certain awards remained in the exclusive gift of the Queen. In 2003 the Fifth Labour Government, led by Helen Clark, abolished appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and created the Supreme Court of New Zealand, a move further separating New Zealand from the United Kingdom, though there was provision for cases commenced before then to remain subject to the right of appeal. At the same time, political relations between New Zealand and the United States improved during the George W. Bush administration (2001-2009) especially after Prime Minister Helen Clark visited the White House on 22 March 2007. They ended the difficult relationship that had escalated in 1986. New agreements between New Zealand and the United and States for defense cooperation were signed in 2010 ("Wellington Declaration"), 2012 ("Washington Declaration"), and a reaffirmation of the bilateral agreements in 2022 ("Aotearoa New Zealand Joint Statement.") Independence in the New Zealand flag debate Although the current New Zealand flag remains a popular symbol of New Zealand, there are proposals from time to time for the New Zealand flag to be changed. Proponents of a new flag argued "[t]he current New Zealand Flag is too colonial and gives the impression that New Zealand is still a British colony and not an independent nation." Two referendums were held on the flag in 2015 and 2016, with a 56.6% majority voting to keep the current flag. Independence in the republic debate The monarch—British in origin and by residence—still enjoys majority support as the symbolic head of state of New Zealand. Some New Zealanders see the monarchy of New Zealand as the final hurdle to full independence. In 1994 the National Party Prime Minister Jim Bolger initiated a debate on the possibility of New Zealand becoming a