Parliament, Politics and Law Making: Issues and developments in the legislative process (Nov 2004)

Edited by Alex Brazier
ISBN 978 0900432 57 6
£20

Making the law is one of the most central and well known functions of Parliament, yet the Westminster legislative process has long been criticised by theorists and practitioners alike as an area that is ripe for improvement. This work draws together a team of experts including academics, lawyers and parliamentary clerks, to examine the impact of recent developments to the legislative process in Westminster, assess the impact of major constitutional and political changes over the last decade on law making in the UK, and identify ways that current system could be improved.

Accessible and informative, Parliament, Politics and Law Making will appeal to practitioners and students alike and makes a valuable contribution to the continuing debate on political and legislative reform, and the changing nature of British parliamentary democracy.

Contents

• Introduction – Clare Ettinghausen

• Parliament and legislative Scrutiny: An overview of issues in the legislative process – Lord Norton of Louth

• Five issues in the legislative process – Alex Brazier

Standing committees: imperfect scrutiny, Programming of legislation: from consensus to controvers, Pre-legislative scrutiny: a positive innovation, Delegated legislation: below the radar, Private Members Bills: limited freedom

• Making the law in devolved Scotland – Barry K. Winetrobe

• Law making for Wales – David Lambert and Marie Navarro

• The impact of European Community law on the British legislative process – Paul Double

• The Human Rights Act and Westminster’s legislative process – Paul Evans

• Regulation and the legislative process: improving scrutiny and accountability – Neil Gerrard and Sam Hinton-Smith

• Law in practice – Vanessa Knapp

• Parliament, government and the politics of legislative reform – Declan McHugh

• Appendix, Glossary & Bibliography