The UK Parliament

by Grant, Moyra

• ISBN13: 9780748622610
• ISBN10: 0748622616
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-03-21
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Summary

This topical and accessible introductory guide to the workings of the UK's Westminster Parliament outlines the history, structure and functions of the Parliament and provides a topical evaluation of how well those functions are performed. Special attention is paid to the relationships the Parliament has with the government, the EU, devolved bodies, and the courts. There is also an analysis of the impact of recent and possible future Parliamentary reforms. Subjects covered include: The UK Parliamentary System The House of Lords The House of Commons: Law-Making; Representing the People; Scrutinising the Executive The Parliament and the European Union The Parliament and the Devolved Bodies of the UK The Parliament and the Courts The Future of Parliament in an Age of Reform

Author Biography

Moyra Grant is Assistant Principal Examiner at the Edexcel Examinations Board and Senior Tutor of A Level Government and Politics at Mander Portman Woodward College. She is the author of AS Government and Politics (2005), Key Ideas in Politics (2003), British Voters: The Changing Basis of Party Choice (2000), Understanding A Level Politics (1999), The Politics of Law and Order (1996) and The British Media (1988).

Table of Contents

List of boxes	p. viii
List of tables	p. ix
List of figures	p. x
A Brief History of Parliament	p. 1
The origins and history of Parliament	p. 2
The functions of Parliament	p. 5
The buildings of Parliament	p. 8
Parliamentary procedures	p. 11
Pomp and ceremony	p. 14
Parliamentary officials	p. 14
Parliament and monarch today	p. 20
The United Kingdom Parliamentary System	p. 24
Parliamentary sovereignty	p. 25
Parliamentary government	p. 29
Other current issues and controversies	p. 34
Contrasts with other contemporary legislative assemblies	p. 36
The House of Lords	p. 45
The history of the House of Lords	p. 46
The composition of the House of Lords	p. 49
The powers and functions of the House of Lords	p. 53
Arguments for and against the House of Lords	p. 57
Reform of the House of Lords	p. 59
The future of the House of Lords	p. 63
The House of Commons: Making the Law	p. 67
The roles of MPs, parties and whips	p. 68
The Commons timetable	p. 75
Making the law	p. 76
Challenges to Parliament's law-making role	p. 82
The House of Commons: Representing the People	p. 87
Representation	p. 88
The electoral system	p. 93
The party system	p. 97
The social composition of MPs	p. 107
MPs and voters	p. 108
MPs and external interests	p. 115
The use and abuse of parliamentary privilege	p. 117
The House of Commons: Scrutinising the Executive	p. 121
Parliamentary government	p. 122
Scrutiny and control of the executive	p. 122
Evaluation of parliamentary control of the executive	p. 131
Summary	p. 138
Parliament and the European Union	p. 143
The United Kingdom and the European Union	p. 144
The changing relationship of the United Kingdom and the European Union	p. 145
The issue of sovereignty	p. 145
The European Parliament	p. 147
The European Court of Justice	p. 149
Parliament and the European Union	p. 150
A European Union constitution?	p. 154
The impact of the European Union on UK political parties	p. 157
The European Union and Westminster: future challenges	p. 158
Parliament and the Devolved Bodies	p. 162
The United Kingdom's unitary constitution	p. 163
The processes of devolution	p. 164
The consequences of devolution	p. 169
Criticisms of devolution	p. 175
The future of devolution	p. 176
Conclusion	p. 178
Parliament, the Courts and Civil Liberties	p. 181
Parliament and the UK courts	p. 182
The courts and the executive	p. 184
Parliament and the judges	p. 187
A Bill of Rights for the United Kingdom: the Human Rights Act 1998	p. 191
'New' Labour authoritarianism on law and order	p. 193
Parliament and the European courts	p. 195
Conclusion: The Future of Parliament in an Age of Reform	p. 199
The story so far	p. 200
The House of Lords	p. 201
The House of Commons	p. 205
Westminster and the European Union	p. 214
References	p. 217
Index	p. 221
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.