Reforming the House of Lords

Reforming the House of Lords
Author: Meg Russell
Publisher: Oxford University Press on Demand
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2000
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9780198298311

'Meg Russell's book is a valuable contribution to the debate on the further stages of House of Lords reform. It is always useful to gain a greater understanding from the experience of other countries.' -Baroness Jay, Leader of the House of Lords'The debate on the future of the House of Lords has so far been insular and backward-looking. Meg Russell provides and overdue and authoritative corrective in showing the lessons to be learnt from second chamber overseas in the balanced, analytical and highly readable manner that the Constitution Unit has made its trademark. She outlines how an independent and distinctive second chamber could form a central part of the developing constitutional settlement, complementing but not threatening the Commons.' -Peter Riddell, The Times'An excellent addition to the comparative literature on bicameralism which will be of great use to those interested in parliaments, parliamentary reform and comparative government generally' -Campbell Sharman, University of Western Australia'excellent new survey' -The Guardian'Ms Russell's thorough book goes straight to the heart of the hardest questions and gives a sober, efficient account of what is to be said on each side... sound, sensible, and well-researched study.' -Michael Fry, Glasgow Herald, 24/2/00'Russell should be thanked for a valuable, laborious and exhaustive study carried out in a fair and honest spirit... provides a thorough professional exercise... shrewd political judgments.' -John Vincent, LRB, 16/3/00The constitution of Britain is changing rapidly, and the House of Lords is next on the agenda for reform. This book provides an international context, using material as yet unpublished in the UK. What can we learn from the appointed Canadian Senate, the elected Australian Senate, the German federal Bundesrat, or our other European neighbours.

House of Lords Reform Since 1911

House of Lords Reform Since 1911
Author: P. Dorey
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 253
Release: 2011-04-05
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0230306926

Examines the debates and developments about House of Lords reform since 1911, and notes that disagreements have occurred within, as well as between, the main political parties and governments throughout this time. It draws attention to how various proposals for reform have raised a wider range constitutional and political problems.

The Contemporary House of Lords

The Contemporary House of Lords
Author: Meg Russell
Publisher:
Total Pages: 349
Release: 2013-07-11
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0199671567

Painting a detailed portrait of the House of Lords since reform removed most hereditary members in 1999, this book demonstrates the chamber's newly diverse membership and substantial policy impact in British politics. It also places the Lords in a comparative context, asks if it can be considered 'legitimate', and examines the likelihood of reform.

The House of Lords

The House of Lords
Author: Donald Shell
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Total Pages: 248
Release: 1988
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Over recent years the House of Lords has become more prominent in the business of government, with Mrs. Thatcher suffering some of her worst parliamentary setbacks at the hands of peers. This full-length study of the House analyzes its contemporary role in British politics, its procedures and membership, and considers various proposals for reform. The book's comprehensiveness will prove invaluable to those seeking a clearer understanding of the operation and make-up of Britain's Upper Chamber. Contents: 1 The House of Lords and Constitutional Development; 2 Membership of the House; 3 The Role of Political Parties in the House; 4 The Organization and Procedure of the House; 5 The Legislative Work of the House; 6 The Treatment of Government Legislation, 1979-87; 7 The Deliberative Work of the House; 8 Select Committees and Secondary Legislation; 9 What Role for the Lords?; Appendix A: Expenses Payments for Peers and Remuneration for Office Holders in the House of Lords; Appendix B: Peerages Disclaimed, 1963-87; Appendix C: Debates and Select Committee Reports on Televising the House of Lords; Principal Sources; Bibliography; Index^R

Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business
Author: Ivor Richard
Publisher:
Total Pages: 252
Release: 1999
Genre: Constitutional history
ISBN:

The introduction of the Bill to remove hereditary peers from the second chamber of the British Houses of Parliament could lead to a major constitutional clash. This book sets out the arguments surrounding the issue.

The Standing Orders of the House of Lords Relating to Public Business [2005]

The Standing Orders of the House of Lords Relating to Public Business [2005]
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 56
Release: 2005-05-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780104007082

This publication contains the Standing Orders of the House of Lords which set out information on the procedure and working of the House, under a range of headings including: Lords and the manner of their introduction; excepted hereditary peers; the Speaker; general observances; debates; arrangement of business; bills; divisions; committees; parliamentary papers; public petitions; privilege; making or suspending of Standing Orders.

On which basis should the house of lords be reformed

On which basis should the house of lords be reformed
Author: Saskia Mahlstede
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Total Pages: 12
Release: 2007-04-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 3638720012

Essay from the year 2005 in the subject Politics - Region: Western Europe, grade: 66% (1,7), University of the West of England, Bristol, language: English, abstract: House of Lords reform has been talked about for over a century, but the subject has been of most recent attention as, in 1999, Tony Blair’s New Labour Party introduced a reform for the Upper Chamber to make it more representative and democratic. But the government only conducted the first stage of this reform, consisting in a merely partial abolition of the hereditary peers. Since then, the composition of the House of Lords is only temporary while proposals for a second reform stage are being discussed for five years now. The aim of this paper is to analyze on which basis the House of Lords should be reformed.

The UK's Changing Democracy

The UK's Changing Democracy
Author: Patrick Dunleavy
Publisher: LSE Press
Total Pages: 521
Release: 2018-11-01
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1909890464

The UK’s Changing Democracy presents a uniquely democratic perspective on all aspects of UK politics, at the centre in Westminster and Whitehall, and in all the devolved nations. The 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU marked a turning point in the UK’s political system. In the previous two decades, the country had undergone a series of democratic reforms, during which it seemed to evolve into a more typical European liberal democracy. The establishment of a Supreme Court, adoption of the Human Rights Act, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolution, proportional electoral systems, executive mayors and the growth in multi-party competition all marked profound changes to the British political tradition. Brexit may now bring some of these developments to a juddering halt. The UK’s previous ‘exceptionalism’ from European patterns looks certain to continue indefinitely. ‘Taking back control’ of regulations, trade, immigration and much more is the biggest change in UK governance for half a century. It has already produced enduring crises for the party system, Parliament and the core executive, with uniquely contested governance over critical issues, and a rapidly changing political landscape. Other recent trends are no less fast-moving, such as the revival of two-party dominance in England, the re-creation of some mass membership parties and the disruptive challenges of social media. In this context, an in-depth assessment of the quality of the UK’s democracy is essential. Each of the 2018 Democratic Audit’s 37 short chapters starts with clear criteria for what democracy requires in that part of the nation’s political life and outlines key recent developments before a SWOT analysis (of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) crystallises the current situation. A small number of core issues are then explored in more depth. Set against the global rise of debased semi-democracies, the book’s approach returns our focus firmly to the big issues around the quality and sustainability of the UK’s liberal democracy.