The Prime Ministerial Court

The Prime Ministerial Court PDF Author: R. A. W. Rhodes
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192691112
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 353

Get Book Here

Book Description
Court politics is about who in British government did what to whom, when, how, why, and with what consequences. In The Prime Ministerial Court Rod Rhodes provides a thorough depiction of the court politics of the Conservative governments of the twenty-first century, namely the courts of David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson. Exploring specific topics, including the courtiers, the prime minister's craft, reshuffles, resignations, and leadership challenges, and the political games and feuds in the court between ministers, advisers, and civil servants, Rhodes concludes that the British government has a new Establishment in which the skills of 'knavery' abound. He finds evidence of betrayal, revenge, lying, scandals, and bullying with such machinations oiled by gossip, humour, and alcohol. Analysing the everyday practice of the 'dark arts' by the British political and administrative elite, each chapter includes a short case study of the court in action, covering the education wars, the 2018 election, and the Covid-19 crisis. Each case illustrates the personal, electoral, and governmental consequences of court politics. Rhodes warns that there are more and more knaves, decency is in decline, and British government needs 'rules for rulers'. Above all, he cautions citizens - 'beware, here be dragons'.

Comparing Cabinets

Comparing Cabinets PDF Author: Patrick Weller
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198844948
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 277

Get Book Here

Book Description
Why is cabinet government so resilient? Despite many obituaries, why does it continue to be the vehicle for governing across most parliamentary systems? Comparing Cabinets answers these questions by examining the structure and performance of cabinet government in five democracies: the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Australia. The book is organised around the dilemmas that cabinet governments must solve: how to develop the formal rules and practices that can bring predictability and consistency to decision making; how to balance good policy with good politics; how to ensure cohesion between the factions and parties that constitute the cabinet while allowing levels of self-interest to be advanced; how leaders can balance persuasion and command; and how to maintain support through accountability at the same time as being able to make unpopular decisions. All these dilemmas are continuing challenges to cabinet government, never solvable, and constantly reappearing in different forms. Comparing distinct parliamentary systems reveals how traditions, beliefs, and practices shape the answers. There is no single definition of cabinet government, but rather arenas and shared practices that provide some cohesion. Such a comparative approach allows greater insight into the process of cabinet government that cannot be achieved in the study of any single political system, and an understanding of the pressures on each system by appreciating the options that are elsewhere accepted as common beliefs.

Understanding Prime-Ministerial Performance

Understanding Prime-Ministerial Performance PDF Author: Paul Strangio
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191644463
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 360

Get Book Here

Book Description
At the beginning of the twenty-first century prime ministers loom larger in the consciousness of their nations than perhaps in any previous era. But how well do we really understand the variables of prime-ministerial performance, and, specifically, why some prime ministers apparently flourish in the role while others wither? This study examines how prime ministers perform as leaders of their governments, parties, and nations. It offers new ways of thinking about prime-ministerial power and leadership, and systematic empirical studies of prime-ministerial leadership practices in four Westminster democracies: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The volume features contributions from leading political scientists from all of these countries and is organised into three major sections: understanding power in prime-ministerial performance, prime ministers and their parties, and evaluating prime-ministerial performance. Through its collaborative and multifaceted approach the volume demonstrates that there are no hard and fast propositions or rules of thumb to capture what it is that makes us think of some prime ministers as so much more effective than others. Instead it highlights the importance for students of executive government to grasp the contingent interplay between personal, institutional, and contextual factors in understanding and evaluating prime-ministerial performance.

Fake Law

Fake Law PDF Author: The Secret Barrister
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 1529009960
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 349

Get Book Here

Book Description
THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A powerful polemic' Sunday Times 'A compelling, eye-opening read' Daily Express – Did an illegal immigrant avoid deportation because he had a cat? – Is the law on the side of the burglar who enters your home? – Are unelected judges ‘enemies of the people’? Most of us think the law is only relevant to criminals, if we even think of it at all. But the law touches every area of our lives: from intimate family matters to the biggest issues in our society. Our unfamiliarity is dangerous because it makes us vulnerable to media spin, political lies and the kind of misinformation that frequently comes from loud-mouthed amateurs and those with vested interests. This 'fake law' allows the powerful and the ignorant to corrupt justice without our knowledge – worse, we risk letting them make us complicit. Thankfully, the Secret Barrister is back to reveal the stupidity, malice and incompetence behind many of the biggest legal stories of recent years. In Fake Law, the Secret Barrister debunks the lies and builds a defence against the abuse of our law, our rights and our democracy that is as entertaining as it is vital.

Being Prime Minister

Being Prime Minister PDF Author: J.D.M. Stewart
Publisher: Dundurn
ISBN: 1459738497
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 345

Get Book Here

Book Description
Being Prime Minister sheds light on the lives of prime ministers as ordinary people, examining them through a variety of experiences most Canadians share.

Choosing a Prime Minister

Choosing a Prime Minister PDF Author: Rodney Brazier
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192603078
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 195

Get Book Here

Book Description
When the door closes on one prime minister's rule, what happens next? General elections are only one possible way to enter 10 Downing Street. Using all relevant constitutional conventions, precedents, non-legal codes, historical events, and laws, this title offers a comprehensive account of all the circumstances in which the premiership is attained and lost. Over seven chapters, this book follows the sequence of events starting with how a prime minister can lose office, continues on to examine the procedures that then have to be followed, and considers at length the ways in which a politician can become leader of the country. Also explored are the possible emergencies, such as the sudden serious illness or even death of a prime minister, and their constitutional responses. This book concludes by looking at whether the procedures discussed could be set out in an authoritative and user-friendly code, and a sample one is suggested. Covering historical examples and modern turmoil, this book in an essential guide for understanding the rules and processes involved in choosing a prime minister.

Comparative Politics

Comparative Politics PDF Author: Michael J Kryzanek
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429981112
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 500

Get Book Here

Book Description
"Comparative Politics: A Policy Approach is a unique text that integrates a comprehensive study of eight nations with critical policy issues facing those nations. The individual chapters on the United States, the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation, Japan, China, Mexico, South Africa, and Iraq provide a wide ranging examination of nations that are representative of the diversity in decision-making frameworks and political development in the international community. Comparative Politics is designed to guide the reader through a series of discussions in each nation's history, including: Key political milestones The structure of government The relationship of citizen to state The role played by political parties, groups and elections The shape and influence of the political elite The current status of the political economy The future direction of the nation in a global environment To further the goals of Comparative Politics, this book features in every chapter: Policy Briefs outlining the policy issues and debates in the forefront of the governing agenda ""Point of Fact"" items highlighting observations and sidebars on politics and life in each country Boxed features providing deeper commentary and factual information"

Whatever Happened to the Music Teacher?

Whatever Happened to the Music Teacher? PDF Author: Donald J. Savoie
Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
ISBN: 0773541101
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 338

Get Book Here

Book Description
An insightful account of the forces that shape Ottawa's expenditure budget and the relations between politicians and public servants.

Courts and Democracies in Asia

Courts and Democracies in Asia PDF Author: Po Jen Yap
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107192625
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 251

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book illuminates how law and politics interact in the judicial doctrines and explores how democracy sustains and is sustained by the exercise of judicial power.

Canadian Politics

Canadian Politics PDF Author: James Bickerton
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
ISBN: 1442607033
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 537

Get Book Here

Book Description
"The sixth edition of Canadian Politics offers a comprehensive introduction to Canadian government and politics by a highly respected group of political scientists. For this edition, the editors have organized the book into six parts. Part I examines Canadian citizenship and political identities, while Parts II and III deal with Canadian political institutions, including Aboriginal governments, and contain new chapters on the public service and Quebec. Parts IV and V shift the focus to the political process, discussing issues pertaining to culture and values, parties and elections, media, groups, movements, gender, and diversity. The chapters on Parliament, bureaucracy, political culture, political communications, social movements, and media are new to this edition. Finally, three chapters in the last section of the book analyze components of Canadian politics that have been gaining prominence during the last decade: the effects of globalization, the shifting ground of Canadian-American relations, and the place of Canada in the changing world order. Of the 21 chapters in this edition, 9 are new and the remainder have been thoroughly revised and updated."--pub. desc.