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Westminster and the World : Commonwealth and Comparative Insights for Constitutional Reform
Author
Title
Westminster and the World : Commonwealth and Comparative Insights for Constitutional Reform / W. Elliot Bulmer.
ISBN
9781529200621
1529200628
9781529200669
1529200660
9781529200638
1529200636
Publication
Bristol : Bristol University Press, 2020.
Copyright Notice Date
©2020.
Physical Description
xi, 290 pages ; 24 cm.
Summary
Constitutional scholar Elliot Bulmer considers what Britain might learn from Westminster-derived constitutions around the world. Exploring the principles of Westminster Model constitutions and their impact on democracy, human rights and good government, this book builds to a bold re-imagining of the United Kingdom's future written framework.
Other formats
Electronic version: Bulmer, W. Westminster and the World. Bristol : Bristol University Press, 2020
Format
Books
Language
English
Added to Catalog
March 31, 2021
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-269) and index.
Contents
Front Cover
Westminster: and the World: Commonwealth and Comparative Insights for Constitutional Reform
Copyright information
Epigraph
Table of contents
List of tables
Note on Cover Images
Note on Author
1 Rediscovering Britain's Wider Constitutional Tradition
Aims and approach
Background and foundations
Imperialism, anti-imperialism and post-imperialism
Structure of the book
2 The Decline and Fall of the British Constitution
The heyday of majoritarian democracy (1945-67)
Pressures for change (1967-97)
The mixed legacy of piecemeal reform (1997-2016)
The British constitution in crisis (2016-20)
The end of the Hanoverian constitutional settlement
3 Towards a Written Constitution
The constitution and the constitutional order
Anatomy and content of a written constitution
The case for a written constitution
The constitution of Burke and Paine
4 Some Objections Answered
Failure of constitutional regimes
Authoritarian constitutions
Excessive rigidity and inability to adapt
Judicial powers and the exclusion of democratic politics.
Incompleteness of a written constitution
Post-liberal and moral communitarian arguments
Impossibility of adopting a written constitution
5 The Westminster Model as a Constitutional Archetype
Defining the Westminster Model
The development of Westminster Model constitutions
A Westminster Model constitution for today
Why limit ourselves to the Westminster Model?
6 Foundations, Principles, Rights and Religion
Principles and values
Citizenship
Fundamental rights and freedoms
Socio-economic rights and directive principles
Religion-state relations.
7 The Crown, Prime Minister and Government
Republic or monarchy
Powers and functions of the monarch
Cabinet government I: government formation and removal
Cabinet government II: ministers and civil servants
8 Parliament I: Functions, Powers and Composition
Roles and functions of Parliament
Legislative powers of Parliament
The House of Commons
The second chamber
Royal assent and consent
War-making and treaty-making powers
Constitutional amendment rules
9 Parliament II: Privileges, Organization and Procedures
Parliamentary privileges
Committees.
The Speaker
Leader of the Opposition
Dissolution
Prorogation
10 Nations, Regions and Local Democracy
The Union and the 'English question'
Flexible federalism
Local democracy
11 Judiciary, Administration, Elections and Miscellaneous Provisions
The judiciary
'Neutral guardians' and institutional integrity
Public ethics
Public service broadcasting
Elections, referendums and campaign finance
12 Constitution-Building Processes
Constitution-building in Westminster Model democracies
Towards a constitution-building process for the United Kingdom
Beyond the constitution: democracy, culture and civic virtue.
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