This important new book approaches the issue of democratic deficit from the angle of accountability, today seen as an essential element of democratic government. It looks at differing understandings of the concept in the EU Member States and at various techniques - political, legal, and managerial - by which accountability can be assured. These include the EU Parliament as well as national parliaments but extend to less familiar institutions, such as the European Court of Auditors.

The lectures presented in this volume examine the fast-growing compensation culture and the consequential pressure on courts to widen the range of situations in which individuals can claim damages from the State. Pressure on domestic legal systems has been further increased by transnational courts. Carol Harlow argues that this trend towards judicialization is undesirable, and that greater use should be made of extrajudicial remedies. She contends that the issue of compensation is too important to be left to the courts.

Group litigation has been recognised by political scientists in the States as a useful method of gaining ground and attracting publicity for pressure groups since the turn of the century. In Britain however, recognition that the courts fill such a role has come more slowly. Despite this lack of recognition, pressure through law is far from a modern phenomenon. As the authors show, such cases can be identified in Britain as early as 1749 when abolitionists used the court to test conflicting views of slavery in common law.

This book looks at the extent to which pressure groups in...

This important new book approaches the issue of democratic deficit from the angle of accountability, today seen as an essential element of democratic government. It looks at differing understandings of the concept in the EU Member States and at various techniques - political, legal, and managerial - by which accountability can be assured. These include the EU Parliament as well as national parliaments but extend to less familiar institutions, such as the European Court of Auditors.

Until the Amsterdam Treaty, law and policymaking in the field of immigration remained a national function, though in practice there was much co-operation (the so-called Third Pillar). Now these powers have been transferred to the European Community as First Pillar powers. Only Denmark, Ireland and the UK have opted out. This book looks at the likely effects of this substantial transfer of powers to the Community. How will the powers and responsibilities be divided? How should the powers be exercised? Will there be input from the public into policymaking? What role will Parliaments play? Will...

This book of essays celebrates Mark Aronson's contribution to administrative law. As joint author of the leading Australian text on judicial review of administrative action, Aronson's work is well-known to public lawyers throughout the common law world and this is reflected in the list of contributors from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. The festschrift reflect Aronson's interests in judicial review, non-judicial grievance mechanisms, problems of proof and evidence, and the boundaries of public and private law. The contributions include: administrative adjudication and...

Group litigation has been recognised by political scientists in the States as a useful method of gaining ground and attracting publicity for pressure groups since the turn of the century. In Britain however, recognition that the courts fill such a role has come more slowly. Despite this lack of recognition, pressure through law is far from a modern phenomenon. As the authors show, such cases can be identified in Britain as early as 1749 when abolitionists used the court to test conflicting views of slavery in common law.

This book looks at the extent to which pressure groups in...