Repairing British Politics: A Blueprint for Constitutional Change
In Britain, the constitutional crisis of 2009 - sparked by the 'expenses scandal' - led rapidly to the questioning of the country's entire political order. At the heart of the crisis lay an absence of accountability at the core of government. This book presents a major new constitutional analysis of the way the British are governed. Repairing British Politics presents some key arguments for constitutional reform, focused around a draft written Constitution underpinned by a new principle of constitutional supremacy. This would replace parliamentary sovereignty, which makes accountability more difficult. A written Constitution is not merely desirable, it is a constitutional necessity if Britain is to have true representative democracy. It would change lives for the better by defining the over-arching values which are considered inviolable. The result would be a more rational, humane, and inclusive society based on greater citizen involvement. Without a clear focus, constitutional reform will not happen. The approach taken here is essentially practical and designed to provide a focal point around which a wider debate might be centered. Written in an easily accessible style and including a glossary of essential terms, Repairing British Politics is intended as much for the general reader as for those professionally interested in law and politics. Part 1 of the book sets out a number of arguments in favor of a written Constitution, as well as the most common objections. Part 2 presents a working draft in the form of one possible model for a Constitution. Observations and explanatory notes are attached to each section of this draft Constitution. This model Constitution is intended as the first stage in a public debate, designed to provoke further discussion about the content and method of legislating into law a written Constitution. Part 3 contains the draft of the Act of Parliament that would be needed to introduce any form of constitutional change. The people are currently facing a crisis of trust in British politics. Whichever party forms the government, the questions raised in Repairing British Politics will not go away.
1144953555
Repairing British Politics: A Blueprint for Constitutional Change
In Britain, the constitutional crisis of 2009 - sparked by the 'expenses scandal' - led rapidly to the questioning of the country's entire political order. At the heart of the crisis lay an absence of accountability at the core of government. This book presents a major new constitutional analysis of the way the British are governed. Repairing British Politics presents some key arguments for constitutional reform, focused around a draft written Constitution underpinned by a new principle of constitutional supremacy. This would replace parliamentary sovereignty, which makes accountability more difficult. A written Constitution is not merely desirable, it is a constitutional necessity if Britain is to have true representative democracy. It would change lives for the better by defining the over-arching values which are considered inviolable. The result would be a more rational, humane, and inclusive society based on greater citizen involvement. Without a clear focus, constitutional reform will not happen. The approach taken here is essentially practical and designed to provide a focal point around which a wider debate might be centered. Written in an easily accessible style and including a glossary of essential terms, Repairing British Politics is intended as much for the general reader as for those professionally interested in law and politics. Part 1 of the book sets out a number of arguments in favor of a written Constitution, as well as the most common objections. Part 2 presents a working draft in the form of one possible model for a Constitution. Observations and explanatory notes are attached to each section of this draft Constitution. This model Constitution is intended as the first stage in a public debate, designed to provoke further discussion about the content and method of legislating into law a written Constitution. Part 3 contains the draft of the Act of Parliament that would be needed to introduce any form of constitutional change. The people are currently facing a crisis of trust in British politics. Whichever party forms the government, the questions raised in Repairing British Politics will not go away.
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Repairing British Politics: A Blueprint for Constitutional Change

Repairing British Politics: A Blueprint for Constitutional Change

by Richard Gordon KC
Repairing British Politics: A Blueprint for Constitutional Change

Repairing British Politics: A Blueprint for Constitutional Change

by Richard Gordon KC

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Overview

In Britain, the constitutional crisis of 2009 - sparked by the 'expenses scandal' - led rapidly to the questioning of the country's entire political order. At the heart of the crisis lay an absence of accountability at the core of government. This book presents a major new constitutional analysis of the way the British are governed. Repairing British Politics presents some key arguments for constitutional reform, focused around a draft written Constitution underpinned by a new principle of constitutional supremacy. This would replace parliamentary sovereignty, which makes accountability more difficult. A written Constitution is not merely desirable, it is a constitutional necessity if Britain is to have true representative democracy. It would change lives for the better by defining the over-arching values which are considered inviolable. The result would be a more rational, humane, and inclusive society based on greater citizen involvement. Without a clear focus, constitutional reform will not happen. The approach taken here is essentially practical and designed to provide a focal point around which a wider debate might be centered. Written in an easily accessible style and including a glossary of essential terms, Repairing British Politics is intended as much for the general reader as for those professionally interested in law and politics. Part 1 of the book sets out a number of arguments in favor of a written Constitution, as well as the most common objections. Part 2 presents a working draft in the form of one possible model for a Constitution. Observations and explanatory notes are attached to each section of this draft Constitution. This model Constitution is intended as the first stage in a public debate, designed to provoke further discussion about the content and method of legislating into law a written Constitution. Part 3 contains the draft of the Act of Parliament that would be needed to introduce any form of constitutional change. The people are currently facing a crisis of trust in British politics. Whichever party forms the government, the questions raised in Repairing British Politics will not go away.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781849460491
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 02/12/2010
Pages: 198
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.42(d)

About the Author

Richard Gordon KC, a member of Brick Court Chambers, London, is recognised as one of the UK's leading silks in administrative and public law and human rights. He is a Visiting Professor at University College London and at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has acted in many of the most important public law and human rights cases in recent years, and appears regularly before the House of Lords and Court of Appeal and in foreign jurisdictions as well as before the ECJ and European Court of Human Rights.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Glossary of Essential Terms
1. SETTING THE SCENE
Starting from Scratch
Why We Need a Written Constitution
Outline of the Book
Power to the People
The Origins of Parliamentary Sovereignty
Cromwell and the UK's Two Written Constitutions
No-one Ever Voted for Parliamentary Sovereignty
Why Parliamentary Sovereignty Doesn't Work
The Need for a Public Debate
The Virtues of Representative Democracy
Drafting a Written Constitution: The Practicalities
Repairing British Politics: The Proposals
Towards the Future
2. A DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM
Preamble
Part 1: The State and the Constitution
Part 2: Lawmaking
Part 3: The House of Representatives
Part 4: The Senate
Part 5: Executive Government
Part 6: Emergency Powers
Part 7: Political Parties
Part 8: The Judiciary
Part 9: Fundamental Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities
Part 10: The Citizens' Branch
Part 11: Other Aspects of Government
Part 12: Constitutional Conventions
Part 13: Constitutional Changes and Referendums
Part 14: Interpretation and Final Matters
3. THE CONSTITUTION OF BRITAIN (REFERENDUMS) ACT
Part 1: Referendum on a Written Constitution
Part 2: Second Referendum on the Content of a Written Constitution
Part 3: Implementation of the Second Referendum
Part 4: Supplementary
Schedules

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