Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215556103
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 126
Book Description
In this report the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee gives its assessment of the process of government formation following the May 2010 general election. In general, the committee finds that the process went well, but it also suggests some practical improvements and clarifications. Among the key findings is that clearer guidance is still needed on the circumstances under which a Prime Minister should resign and when he has a duty to remain in office. The report also proposes enhanced processes for ensuring that governments understand-and are discouraged from breaching-restrictions on their activity that apply before and immediately after general elections. The committee concludes that as a coalition government's programme for government cannot be put directly to the people, the House of Commons needs to have the opportunity to subject these proposals to full pre-legislative scrutiny.
Lessons from the process of government formation after the 2010 general election
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215556103
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 126
Book Description
In this report the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee gives its assessment of the process of government formation following the May 2010 general election. In general, the committee finds that the process went well, but it also suggests some practical improvements and clarifications. Among the key findings is that clearer guidance is still needed on the circumstances under which a Prime Minister should resign and when he has a duty to remain in office. The report also proposes enhanced processes for ensuring that governments understand-and are discouraged from breaching-restrictions on their activity that apply before and immediately after general elections. The committee concludes that as a coalition government's programme for government cannot be put directly to the people, the House of Commons needs to have the opportunity to subject these proposals to full pre-legislative scrutiny.
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215556103
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 126
Book Description
In this report the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee gives its assessment of the process of government formation following the May 2010 general election. In general, the committee finds that the process went well, but it also suggests some practical improvements and clarifications. Among the key findings is that clearer guidance is still needed on the circumstances under which a Prime Minister should resign and when he has a duty to remain in office. The report also proposes enhanced processes for ensuring that governments understand-and are discouraged from breaching-restrictions on their activity that apply before and immediately after general elections. The committee concludes that as a coalition government's programme for government cannot be put directly to the people, the House of Commons needs to have the opportunity to subject these proposals to full pre-legislative scrutiny.
HC 1023 - Government Formation Post-Election
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215085639
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 45
Book Description
Opinion polling has consistently indicated the likelihood of an election result with no overall majority. This means it is likely there will be a negotiation period for the formation of a potential coalition Government or a Government supported on a confidence and supply arrangement. This inquiry was to provide guidance to the public on what to expect in the government formation process in a Parliament with no overall majority. The key issues are that: the negotiation period in 2015 is likely to be longer than in 2010; a Prime Minister who is unlikely to be able to form a new administration is nevertheless likely to remain in office until it is clear that another administration can form a Government which can command the confidence of the House of Commons; if there is no parliamentary majority to support the current administration, it will nevertheless continue in office on a caretaker basis until a new government is formed. The Committee believes it is wrong that Parliament may not have its first meeting after the election until after a new administration has been appointed. They consider that it is wrong in principle that the decision on the date of Parliament's return should be in the hands of the Prime Minister, and recommend that the date of Parliament's first meeting after a General Election should be put on a statutory basis. Parliament should return as soon as possible, and in any case the Prime Minister should set the date for Parliament's return following the General Election for Monday 11 May 2015.
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215085639
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 45
Book Description
Opinion polling has consistently indicated the likelihood of an election result with no overall majority. This means it is likely there will be a negotiation period for the formation of a potential coalition Government or a Government supported on a confidence and supply arrangement. This inquiry was to provide guidance to the public on what to expect in the government formation process in a Parliament with no overall majority. The key issues are that: the negotiation period in 2015 is likely to be longer than in 2010; a Prime Minister who is unlikely to be able to form a new administration is nevertheless likely to remain in office until it is clear that another administration can form a Government which can command the confidence of the House of Commons; if there is no parliamentary majority to support the current administration, it will nevertheless continue in office on a caretaker basis until a new government is formed. The Committee believes it is wrong that Parliament may not have its first meeting after the election until after a new administration has been appointed. They consider that it is wrong in principle that the decision on the date of Parliament's return should be in the hands of the Prime Minister, and recommend that the date of Parliament's first meeting after a General Election should be put on a statutory basis. Parliament should return as soon as possible, and in any case the Prime Minister should set the date for Parliament's return following the General Election for Monday 11 May 2015.
HC 232 - Voter Engagement in the UK
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215078772
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 118
Book Description
Since 1945, turnout for general elections in the UK has fallen from a high of 83.9% in 1950 to a low of 59.4% in 2001. Turnout for the 2010 general election was 65.1% higher than the previous two general elections, but still the third lowest since the introduction of universal suffrage. Turnout at the last general election was also low compared with turnout at the last parliamentary elections in other European Union countries. There is also evidence that a significant number of people in the UK are not registered to vote, with the most recent estimates indicating that the electoral register was between 85 and 87% complete. This would mean that approximately 6.5 million people are missing from the electoral register. In light of this, the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee agreed to conduct an inquiry into voter registration and turnout in the UK.
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215078772
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 118
Book Description
Since 1945, turnout for general elections in the UK has fallen from a high of 83.9% in 1950 to a low of 59.4% in 2001. Turnout for the 2010 general election was 65.1% higher than the previous two general elections, but still the third lowest since the introduction of universal suffrage. Turnout at the last general election was also low compared with turnout at the last parliamentary elections in other European Union countries. There is also evidence that a significant number of people in the UK are not registered to vote, with the most recent estimates indicating that the electoral register was between 85 and 87% complete. This would mean that approximately 6.5 million people are missing from the electoral register. In light of this, the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee agreed to conduct an inquiry into voter registration and turnout in the UK.
Revisiting Rebuilding the House
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215060747
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 138
Book Description
This report reviews progress since 2009 on the recommendations of the Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons - known as the Wright Committee after its Chair, Dr Tony Wright - and looks forward. It concludes that: Commons select committees are more effective, and election of select committee chairs and members by MPs in a secret ballot, instead of being appointed by the whips, as recommended by Wright, have brought greater transparency and democracy; the Backbench Business Committee, another suggestion of Wright, has been a success, giving backbenchers the chance to decide the subjects of debates covering about a quarter of the House's time; another key Wright recommendation - a House Business Committee which would give backbenchers an influence on the rest of the House's agenda - can be and should be introduced without delay. The Coalition Agreement said in 2010 that the Committee would be established by the third year of this Parliament; the House's petitions procedure is failing to meet public expectations. There is too much confusion between the roles of Government and Parliament. The Committee argues that there is still a case for the establishment of a petitions committee and recommends that officials work up a detailed and costed proposition which could then be put to the House for its endorsement
Publisher: Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215060747
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 138
Book Description
This report reviews progress since 2009 on the recommendations of the Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons - known as the Wright Committee after its Chair, Dr Tony Wright - and looks forward. It concludes that: Commons select committees are more effective, and election of select committee chairs and members by MPs in a secret ballot, instead of being appointed by the whips, as recommended by Wright, have brought greater transparency and democracy; the Backbench Business Committee, another suggestion of Wright, has been a success, giving backbenchers the chance to decide the subjects of debates covering about a quarter of the House's time; another key Wright recommendation - a House Business Committee which would give backbenchers an influence on the rest of the House's agenda - can be and should be introduced without delay. The Coalition Agreement said in 2010 that the Committee would be established by the third year of this Parliament; the House's petitions procedure is failing to meet public expectations. There is too much confusion between the roles of Government and Parliament. The Committee argues that there is still a case for the establishment of a petitions committee and recommends that officials work up a detailed and costed proposition which could then be put to the House for its endorsement
Recall of MPs
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215045744
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 156
Book Description
The Government published a draft Bill on the Recall of MPs, with the aim of restoring faith in the political process after the expenses scandal. But the restricted form of recall proposed could reduce public confidence in politics by creating expectations that are not fulfilled. Under the Government's proposals, constituents themselves would not be able to initiate a recall petition. Furthermore, the circumstances that the Government proposes would trigger a recall petition are so narrow that recall petitions would seldom, if ever, take place. The Committee believes that the new House of Commons Committee on Standards, which will include lay members, already has the sanctions it needs to deal with MPs who are guilty of misconduct, including recommending the ultimate sanction of expulsion from the House of Commons in cases of serious wrongdoing. The Committee argues that the option of expulsion must be actively considered and that the House must be prepared to act. The Committee recommends: that the Government replace the requirement for a single designated location for signing the recall petition with a requirement for multiple locations; that people with an existing postal vote should automatically be sent a postal signature sheet in the event of a recall petition; that constituents in Northern Ireland should have the same options for signing a recall petition as constituents elsewhere in the UK, rather than being restricted to signing by post
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215045744
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 156
Book Description
The Government published a draft Bill on the Recall of MPs, with the aim of restoring faith in the political process after the expenses scandal. But the restricted form of recall proposed could reduce public confidence in politics by creating expectations that are not fulfilled. Under the Government's proposals, constituents themselves would not be able to initiate a recall petition. Furthermore, the circumstances that the Government proposes would trigger a recall petition are so narrow that recall petitions would seldom, if ever, take place. The Committee believes that the new House of Commons Committee on Standards, which will include lay members, already has the sanctions it needs to deal with MPs who are guilty of misconduct, including recommending the ultimate sanction of expulsion from the House of Commons in cases of serious wrongdoing. The Committee argues that the option of expulsion must be actively considered and that the House must be prepared to act. The Committee recommends: that the Government replace the requirement for a single designated location for signing the recall petition with a requirement for multiple locations; that people with an existing postal vote should automatically be sent a postal signature sheet in the event of a recall petition; that constituents in Northern Ireland should have the same options for signing a recall petition as constituents elsewhere in the UK, rather than being restricted to signing by post
Introducing a statutory register of lobbyists
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215046826
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 182
Book Description
The proposals in the Government's consultation paper, Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists (Cm 8233, ISBN 9780101823326), focused the register on those who undertake lobbying activities on behalf of a third party client. Under the proposals, a lobbyist who worked in house for a large company such as News International would not be required to register, whereas a 'one-man band' lobbyist would be, and have to name their clients, and pay for the privilege. There is no evidence to suggest that third party lobbyists are a particular problem within the lobbying community; the Government's own records of ministerial meetings suggest that third party lobbyists make up less than 1% of all meetings with Ministers. The Government should abandon its plans and introduce regulation to cover all those who lobby professionally, in a paid role, including those who lobby on behalf of charities, trade unions, and think tanks. The Committee specifically recommends the Government: publish information about ministerial meetings no more than a month after the month in which the meeting occurred; improve the level of detail in meeting disclosures, so that the actual topic of a meeting is disclosed, rather than obscure terms like 'general discussion'; publish, where applicable, the company or charity number of any organisation that meets with Ministers or officials, so that the identity of the organisation can be properly verified; standardise the format of meeting data, with a view to publishing all ministerial and official meetings on one website, rather than on many different Government websites.
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215046826
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 182
Book Description
The proposals in the Government's consultation paper, Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists (Cm 8233, ISBN 9780101823326), focused the register on those who undertake lobbying activities on behalf of a third party client. Under the proposals, a lobbyist who worked in house for a large company such as News International would not be required to register, whereas a 'one-man band' lobbyist would be, and have to name their clients, and pay for the privilege. There is no evidence to suggest that third party lobbyists are a particular problem within the lobbying community; the Government's own records of ministerial meetings suggest that third party lobbyists make up less than 1% of all meetings with Ministers. The Government should abandon its plans and introduce regulation to cover all those who lobby professionally, in a paid role, including those who lobby on behalf of charities, trade unions, and think tanks. The Committee specifically recommends the Government: publish information about ministerial meetings no more than a month after the month in which the meeting occurred; improve the level of detail in meeting disclosures, so that the actual topic of a meeting is disclosed, rather than obscure terms like 'general discussion'; publish, where applicable, the company or charity number of any organisation that meets with Ministers or officials, so that the identity of the organisation can be properly verified; standardise the format of meeting data, with a view to publishing all ministerial and official meetings on one website, rather than on many different Government websites.
The Veiled Sceptre
Author: Anne Twomey
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108563635
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 913
Book Description
This book is a comprehensive review and analysis of the reserve powers and their exercise by heads of state in countries that have Westminster systems. It addresses the powers of the Queen in the United Kingdom, those of her vice-regal representatives, and those of heads of state in the less studied realms and former colonies that are now republics. Drawing on a vast range of previously unpublished archival and primary material, The Veiled Sceptre contains fresh perspectives on old controversies. It also reveals constitutional crises in small countries, which have escaped the notice of most scholars. This book places the exercises of reserve powers within the context of constitutional principle and analyses how heads of state should act when constitutional principles conflict. Providing an unrivalled contemporary analysis of reserve powers, it will appeal to constitutional scholars worldwide and others involved in the administration of systems of responsible government.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108563635
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 913
Book Description
This book is a comprehensive review and analysis of the reserve powers and their exercise by heads of state in countries that have Westminster systems. It addresses the powers of the Queen in the United Kingdom, those of her vice-regal representatives, and those of heads of state in the less studied realms and former colonies that are now republics. Drawing on a vast range of previously unpublished archival and primary material, The Veiled Sceptre contains fresh perspectives on old controversies. It also reveals constitutional crises in small countries, which have escaped the notice of most scholars. This book places the exercises of reserve powers within the context of constitutional principle and analyses how heads of state should act when constitutional principles conflict. Providing an unrivalled contemporary analysis of reserve powers, it will appeal to constitutional scholars worldwide and others involved in the administration of systems of responsible government.
Individual electoral registration and electoral administration
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215562180
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 156
Book Description
In this report the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee welcomes the Government's decision to move to a system of individual electoral registration in 2014-15, to replace the existing outdated system of registration by household. The Committee raises a number of concerns about the Government's implementation plan. Firstly, levels of registration will fall, by an uncertain amount at first, and if this fall is uneven across the country, it will have a marked and potentially partisan effect on the parliamentary constituency boundaries to be used at the 2020 general election. This risk is enhanced by the proposal to make voter registration voluntary. The Committee recommends that it should initially be an offence to fail to complete a voter registration form, as is currently the case in Northern Ireland. A second concern is that the electoral registers used for the 2015 general election, and initial invitations to register individually, will contain significant inaccuracies. This is because of the Government's decision not to remove voters registered in 2013 from the rolls until after that general, combined with the decision not to hold a full household canvass in 2014. Thirdly, vulnerable electors may be disenfranchised by the Government's decision to require postal and proxy voters to register individually before the 2015 general election. The Committee also recommends the abolition of the edited register. The report also comments on other electoral reforms the Government is proposing, including to the timetable for parliamentary elections, and largely endorses them.
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215562180
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 156
Book Description
In this report the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee welcomes the Government's decision to move to a system of individual electoral registration in 2014-15, to replace the existing outdated system of registration by household. The Committee raises a number of concerns about the Government's implementation plan. Firstly, levels of registration will fall, by an uncertain amount at first, and if this fall is uneven across the country, it will have a marked and potentially partisan effect on the parliamentary constituency boundaries to be used at the 2020 general election. This risk is enhanced by the proposal to make voter registration voluntary. The Committee recommends that it should initially be an offence to fail to complete a voter registration form, as is currently the case in Northern Ireland. A second concern is that the electoral registers used for the 2015 general election, and initial invitations to register individually, will contain significant inaccuracies. This is because of the Government's decision not to remove voters registered in 2013 from the rolls until after that general, combined with the decision not to hold a full household canvass in 2014. Thirdly, vulnerable electors may be disenfranchised by the Government's decision to require postal and proxy voters to register individually before the 2015 general election. The Committee also recommends the abolition of the edited register. The report also comments on other electoral reforms the Government is proposing, including to the timetable for parliamentary elections, and largely endorses them.
Text, Cases and Materials on Public Law and Human Rights
Author: Helen Fenwick
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135071330
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 1060
Book Description
This book interweaves an authoritative authorial commentary – significantly expanded from the last edition - with extracts from a diverse and contemporary collection of cases and materials from three leading academics in the field. It provides an all-encompassing student guide to constitutional, administrative and UK human rights law. This fourth edition provides comprehensive coverage of all recent developments, including the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011, restrictions on judicial review (Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015), changes to judicial appointments (Crime and Courts Act 2013), the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum, Scotland Act 2016 and draft Wales Bill 2016. Recent devolution cases in the Supreme Court, including Imperial Tobacco (2012) and Asbestos Diseases (2015) are fully analysed, as is the 2015 introduction of English Votes for English Laws. The remarkable Evans (2015) ‘Black Spider memos’ case is considered in a number of chapters. The common law rights resurgence seen in Osborn (2013), BBC (2014) and Kennedy (2014) is analysed in several places, along with other key developments in judicial review such as Keyu (2015) and Pham (2015). Ongoing parliamentary reform in both Lords and Commons, including major advances in controlling prerogative powers, are fully explained, as is the adaptation of the core Executive to Coalition Government (2010-2015). There is comprehensive coverage of key Strasbourg and HRA cases (Horncastle (2010), Nicklinson (2014), Moohan (2014), Carlile (2014)), and those in core areas of freedom of expression, police powers and public order (Animal Defenders (2013), Beghal (2015), Roberts (2015), Miranda (2016)) and the prisoners’ voting rights saga, up to Chester (2015).
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135071330
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 1060
Book Description
This book interweaves an authoritative authorial commentary – significantly expanded from the last edition - with extracts from a diverse and contemporary collection of cases and materials from three leading academics in the field. It provides an all-encompassing student guide to constitutional, administrative and UK human rights law. This fourth edition provides comprehensive coverage of all recent developments, including the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011, restrictions on judicial review (Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015), changes to judicial appointments (Crime and Courts Act 2013), the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum, Scotland Act 2016 and draft Wales Bill 2016. Recent devolution cases in the Supreme Court, including Imperial Tobacco (2012) and Asbestos Diseases (2015) are fully analysed, as is the 2015 introduction of English Votes for English Laws. The remarkable Evans (2015) ‘Black Spider memos’ case is considered in a number of chapters. The common law rights resurgence seen in Osborn (2013), BBC (2014) and Kennedy (2014) is analysed in several places, along with other key developments in judicial review such as Keyu (2015) and Pham (2015). Ongoing parliamentary reform in both Lords and Commons, including major advances in controlling prerogative powers, are fully explained, as is the adaptation of the core Executive to Coalition Government (2010-2015). There is comprehensive coverage of key Strasbourg and HRA cases (Horncastle (2010), Nicklinson (2014), Moohan (2014), Carlile (2014)), and those in core areas of freedom of expression, police powers and public order (Animal Defenders (2013), Beghal (2015), Roberts (2015), Miranda (2016)) and the prisoners’ voting rights saga, up to Chester (2015).
Voting by convicted prisoners
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215556400
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 36
Book Description
This short report sets out a summary of evidence taken by the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee looking into the issue of voting by convicted prisioners, in advance of the debate taking place on 10 February 2011. Evidence was taken from legal experts, including the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay of Clashfern. The main purpose is to gather expert evidence on how the United Kingdom law in this area relates to the European Convention on Human Rights as interpreted through the binding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215556400
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 36
Book Description
This short report sets out a summary of evidence taken by the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee looking into the issue of voting by convicted prisioners, in advance of the debate taking place on 10 February 2011. Evidence was taken from legal experts, including the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay of Clashfern. The main purpose is to gather expert evidence on how the United Kingdom law in this area relates to the European Convention on Human Rights as interpreted through the binding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.