Suchergebnisse

Reasons for the underusage of the Parliamentary Commissioner system which investigates citizen complaints.

THE AIM OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO DESCRIBE THE STRATEGY ADOPTED BY THE LABOUR PARTY WORKING PARTY ON ELECTORAL SYSTEMS WHICH THE AUTHOR CHAIRS. AS THE WORKING PARTY IS, AT THE TIME OF WRITING, ONLY MOVING TOWARDS FINALIZING ITS INTERIM REPORT, HE IS UNABLE TO DISCUSS THE KINDS OF CONCLUSIONS WHICH MAY ULTIMATELY BE ADOPTED BY IT. HOWEVER, HE DOES TRY TO DESCRIBE THAD PROVIDE A RATIONALE FOR HOW IT HAS APPROACHED ITS TASK. HE AIMS TO EXPLORE THE COMPLEXITIES AND THEN TO COMPARE THE MAJOR ELECTORAL SYSTEMS: SIMPLE MAJORITIES IN SINGLE-MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES, THE ALTERNATIVE VOTE, THE SECOND BALLOT, THE SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE, NATIONAL LISTS, REGIONAL LISTS AND THE ADDITIONAL MEMBER SYSTEM AGAINST THESE CRITERIA.

IN THE THREE DEMOCRACIES WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSTITUIONS--THE UNITED KINGDOM, NEW ZEALAND AND ISRAEL--THERE HAS IN RECENT TIMES BEEN CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING NEW CHECKS ON THE POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE. IN NEW ZEALAND AND ISRAEL A DRAFT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED INTO UNICAMERAL PARLIMENTS EMPOWERED TO ENACT SUCH MEASURES. ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSED DOCUMENTS WERE SIMILAR IN ORIGIN AND CONTENT, DIFFERENCES IN POLITICAL CULTURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MARKEDLY DISSIMILAR OUTCOMES. THIS ARTICLE EXPLORES THE ORIGINS AND OBSTACLES, THE IMPACT OF ETHNIC MINORITIES, AND THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AS WELL AS THE CONTENTS OF THESE BILLS OF RIGHTS.

IN GREAT BRITAIN, LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS COME TO EPITOMISE MANY OF THE FAILINGS OF THE BRITISH SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION AND ONE THAT ANY GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE LEGITIMATE GOURNDS FOR REFORMING. TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT BECAME THE CAUSE OF SUCH PARTICULAR CONCERN, WHICH EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE RANKS OF ANY ONE POLITICAL PARTY, THIS ARTICLE OFFERS A RAPID SKETCH OF THE PROCESS BY WHICH THIS HAS COME ABOUT, IN THE HOPE TO CLARIFY BOTH THE RATIONALE FOR CRITICISMS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE IS NOW SCOPE FOR FURTHER CHANGE AND THE FORM THAT IT MIGHT TAKE.

THE AUTHORS EXAMINES THE POLITICAL CAREER PATHS FOLLOWED BY THE 3,803 INDIVIDUAL WHO SERVED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND/OR SENATE BETWEEN 1867 AND 1984 INCLUSIVE. GIVEN JOSEPH SCHLESINGER'S ARGUMENT THAT CAREER PATTERNS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT POLITICAL INTEGRATION IN FEDERAL STATES, PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE PROVINCIAL EXPERIENCE OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS, AND TO VARIATIONS IN THAT EXPERIENCE OVER TIME AND ACROSS REGIONS. THE DATA SHOW THAT NATIONAL RECRUITMENT FROM PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES HAS DECLINED OVER TIME, AND IS PARTICULARLY UNCOMMON IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC. OVERALL, THE STRUCTURE OF POLITICAL CAREERS IN CANADA IS BIFURCATED OTHER THAN INTEGRATED; POLITICIANS DO NOT MOVE THROUGH THE RANKS BUT RATHER FACE A CHOICE BETWEEN PROVINCIAL OR NATIONAL CAREERS.

THE BRITISH HOUSE OF LORDS NOW COMMANDS RESPECTFUL PUBLIC AND ACADEMIC ATTENTION BECAUSE OF ITS HEIGHTENED PROFILE AND THE WIDESPREAD BELIEF THAT OVER THE PAST DECADE IT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED AS AN INSTITUTION. IN THE 1950S THE HOUSE OF LORDS CAME CLOSE TO REALISING THE PROPHESY THAT ITS DEMISE WOULD RESULT NOT FROM ABOLITION BUT FROM ATROPHY. NEITHER IS ANY LONGER IN PROSPECT. LIFE PEERS AND POST-1960S DEVELOPMENTS HAVE GIVEN A REMARKABLE VITALITY AND SELF-CONFIDENCE TO THE HOUSE; AND AN ASSURANCE THAT THE PEERS ARE NO LONGER AT THE BACK OF THE PARLIAMENTARY STAGE AND THREATENED WITH REDUNDANCY. YET THE 'NEW' LORDS RETAINS THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS 1960S PREDECESSOR. IT CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT FUNDAMENTAL WEAKNESSES AS A PROFESSIONAL SECOND CHAMBER; AND THE VOTING (IF NOT THE WORKING) LORDS IS STILL DOMINATED BY THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY. RECORDS OF ATTENDANCE AND VOTING PATTERNS FOR THE 1985/86 SESSION ARE PROVIDED HERE.