The Constitution of the United Kingdom : a contextual analysis

Constitutional Systems of the World: Series Editors' Preface . . v
Preface . . vii
Table of Cases . . xv
Table of Legislation . . xix

1 UK CONSTITUTION: Context and History . . 1

PART I: CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT . . 1
Introduction . .  1
What is Liberal Democracy? . . 2
Freedom of Expression, and the Broadcasting and Print Media . . 3
The UK Constitution, Constitutionalism, and Good Governance . . 6

PART II: HISTORY
The Importance of History . . 8
Qualifying Absolute Monarchy . . 9
The Emergence of Parliament and the Path to Democracy . . 12
Defining the Nation: What is the United Kingdom? . . 13
Empire, Commonwealth, and Europe . . 15
Conclusion . . 16
Further Reading . . 17

2 THE SOURCES OF THE CONSTITUTION . . 19
Introduction . . 19

PART I: SOURCES OF THE CONSTITUTION . . 20
Statute Law . . 20
The Common Law . . 21
European Union Law . . 22
European Convention on Human Rights . . 22
Legal Treatises . . 23
The Law and Customs of Parliament . . 24
The Royal Prerogative . . 24

PART II: CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS . . 24
Defining Conventions . . 25
The Practical Importance of Constitutional Conventions . . 28
Condusion . . 32
Further Reading . . 33

3 CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES . . 35
Introduction . . 35
Parliamentary Sovereignty . . 37
The Rule of Law . . 48
Separation of Powers . . 53
Conclusion: Redefinitions of Power . . 61
Further Reading . . 63

4 THE CROWN AND THE CONSTITUTION . . 65
Introduction . . 65
What is the Royal Prerogative? . . 67
The Constitutional Role of the Monarch . . 70
Does the Monarch Retain Real Power? . . 73
What is the 'Crown? . . 74
Public Interest Immunity . . 75
Liability of the Crown in Tort and Contract . . 76
Evaluation: Reform or Abolition? . . 77
Conclusion . . 78
Further Reading . . 79

5 PARLIAMENT . . 81
Introduction . . 81

PART I: ELECTIONS AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS . . 82
The Electoral System . . 83
'First Past the Post' or Proportional Representation? . . 85
Electronic Voting . . 85
The House of Commons and the Formation of a Government . . 86

PART II: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS . . 87
The House of Commons and the Role of MPs . . 87
The Speaker . . 89
Parliamentary Standards and Conduct of MPs . . 92

PART III: THE HOUSE OF LORDS . . 93
Introduction and History . . 93
Composition of the House of Lords . . 95
House of Lords: What Next? . . 97

PART IV: PARLIAMENT AS LEGISLATOR . . 99
Public Bills . . 100
Private Members' Bills and Private Bills . . 104
Parliamentary Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation . . 104

PART V: PARLIAMENT AS WATCHDOG . . 105
Parliamentary Questions . . 105
Departmental Select Committees . . 106
Public Accounts Committee and National Audit Office . . 110
The Parliamentary Ombudsman . . 113
Conclusion . . 113
Further Reading . . 115

6 GOVERNMENT AND EXECUTIVE . . 117
Introduction . . 117
The Prime Minister . . 118
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet . . 119
The Prime Minister: Policy Formation and Implementation . . 122
Prime Minister's Press Office and Government 'Spin' . . 125
Shaping Government Departments . . 126
Political Accountability and Individual Ministerial Responsibility . . 128
Ministerial Responsibility: Answerability or Resignation . . 129
The Scott Report . . 130
Ministerial Responsibility and the Press . . 131
The Civil Service . . 132
New Public Management and Executive Accountability . . 134
A Civil Service Act for the United Kingdom . . 137
Government Openness and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 . . 138
E-government Revolution . . 140
Conclusion . . 142
Further Reading . . 143
Websites . . 144

7 THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF THE COURTS . . 145

PART I: SURVEYING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF THE COURTS . . 145
Introduction . . 145
Common Law and Statutory Interpretation . . 146
Reforming the Office of Lord Chancellor . . 149
Appointing and Dismissingjudges . . 151
A Supreme Court for the United Kingdom . . 154

PART II: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND JUDICIAL REVIEW . . 155
Introduction to Administrative Law . . 155
Red Light and Green Light Theory . . 157
The Impact of Judicial Review . . 161
Distinguishing Public Law from Private Law . . 162
The Requirements of Standing . . 164
Grounds of Judicial Review . . 165
The Question of Merits . . 167
Judicial Review Cases . . 168

PART III: THE COURTS AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998 . . 170
Vertical or Horizontal Effect . . 172
Proportionality Review . . 174
The Proflife Alliance Case . . 176
The Belmarsh Detainees Case . . 177
The Denbigh High School Case . . 180
Assessing the Impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 . . 181
Conclusion . . 182
Further Reading . . 182

8 DEVOLUTION, REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT . . 185
Introduction . . 185

PART I: DEVOLUTION . . 187
Background to Devolution . . 187
Scottish Devolution . . 189
Welsh Devolution . . 192
Power-sharing in Northern Ireland . . 195
Funding Devolution . . 197
Intergovernmental Relations . . 198
The Politics of Devolved Government . . 199
Relations with Europe . . 201
Devolution and the Courts . . 202

PART II: DEVOLUTION AND ENGLAND . . 205
The West Lothian Question . . 206
English Regional Government . . 207
An English Parliament? . . 209

PART III: LOCAL GOVERNMENT . . 210
Introduction to Local Government in the United Kingdom . . 210
Mayor and Assembly for London . . 211
The Framework of Local Government . . 212
The Financing of Local Government . . 214
From Compulsory Competitive Tendering to Best Value . . 215
The Local Government Act 2000 . . 216
Accountability Mechanisms . . 217
Conclusion . . 218
Further Reading . . 220
Websites . . 221

9 CONCLUSION: THE UK CONSTITUTION FACING THE FUTURE . . 223
(1) A Written Constitution or a Legal Constitution? . . 223
(2) The EU, the European Constitution, and the UK Constitution . . 226

Index . . 229