Political Power and Democratic Control in Britain

ISBN-13: 9780415096430 / Angielski / Twarda / 1998 / 560 str.

David Beetham;Stuart Weir;David Beetham

Opis

Democratic Institutions and Practices is the second study carried out under the Democratic Audit of the UK. This volume explores the formal institutions and processes of the liberal democratic state: including the executive, elections, parliament and the civil service.

Political Power and Democratic Control in Britain sets out an up-to-date and compelling analysis of the huge and flexible powers of the United Kingdom. It details the absence of effective checks and balances and the inability of Parliament, in particular, to render the executive open and accountable. In doing so, it provides a comprehensive audit of the formal institutions and process of the British liberal democratic state, including:
* the prime minister and cabinet
* the civil service, ministers, bureaucrats and government departments
* executive agencies and the quango state
* elections
* Parliament
* the judiciary and the rule of law.
This study measures democratic practice in the United Kingdom specifically against a unique index of democratic criteria, specially constructed by the authors. The index is an important new tool for monitoring the quality of democracy around the world.

Spis treści

Introduction 1. Auditing Democracy in Britain 2. Ancient and Modern Part I Elections and Mandates Introduction 3.The Other National Lottery 4. The Independance of Elections 5. Sticking to the Manifesto Part II The Core Executive Introduction 6. Does the cabinet really govern? 7. Ministers and mandarins 8. Agents of power 9 Below the centre 10. Networks in power 11. The Rules of the Game Part III Checks and Balances Introduction 12. Giving account to Parliament 13. A Parliament bound 14. Heckling the steamroller 15. The rule of law Part IV The Balance Sheet Findings Good in parts Conclusions Tying down Gulliver

O autorze

David Beetham, Stuart Weir