Parliament and Congress - Representation and Scrutiny in the Twenty-First Century (Paperback)

The constitutional background of both legislatures and their procedures are described and where possible compared. Currently unsolved problems often have much in common, in vexed areas such as ethics requirements or how procedural rules permit minorities fair access to legislative time before majorities prevail. British successes include the enhanced authority and effectiveness of select committees and the acquisition of more debating time by the creation of a parallel Chamber. Unsolved problems at Westminster begin with the powers and status of the Lords, and go on through the search for more effective review of EU activities, adapting parliamentary scrutiny to more sophisticated government financial information, and making better use of legislative time without diminishing back-bench rights.
The accelerated pace and extent of procedural changes in Congress is problematic. Constant pursuit of campaign funds, increased party exploitation of Members' ethical shortcomings, and partisan reapportionments, have diminished collegiality and compromise. Business is conducted with greater predictability, with fewer quorum calls, postponement and clustering of votes, and by utilization of ad hoc special orders, often in derogation of openness and minority rights in the House. Minority complaints have been frequent and occasionally extreme. Conversely constant filibuster threats in the Senate have enhanced minority party power there. An 'inverse ratio' between the greater complexity, importance, and urgency of pending legislation on the one hand, and diminution of deliberative capacity, fairness. and transparency on the other, has been repeatedly demonstrated, especially at the stage of final compromises between the Houses.

General

Imprint:	Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	August 2012
First published:	October 2012
Authors:	William McKay • Charles W. Johnson
Dimensions:	247 x 176 x 34mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	614
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-965595-3
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Comparative politics Books > Law > Laws of other jurisdictions & general law > Constitutional & administrative law > General Promotions
LSN:	0-19-965595-2
Barcode:	9780199655953

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