Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution

Analysis of Introduction

Law_i-l.indd 31 1/27/12 12:01 PM ANALYSIS OF INTRODUCTION Aim .. . .......... . .. . .... . ............ XXXV The Sovereignty of Parliament ................. xxxvi Possible change in constitution of parliamentary sovereign (Parliament Act, 1911) . . . . . . . . .. .... .... xxxvi State of things before passing Act . ..... . . . . . . . . . . . .. xxxviii Direct effects of Parliament Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxxix (1) Money Bill-House of Lords no veto ....... xxxix (2) Other public Bills-House of Lords has only suspensive veto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xl (3) House of Commons has unlimited legislative power .xli Practical change in area of parliamentary sovereignty (Relation of the Imperial Parliament to Dominions) . . . . . . .. xlii First question-What is the difference between such relation in 1884 and 1914? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xlii Second question-What changes of opinion caused the change ofrelation? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... 1 The Rule of Law . . . ... .. . . .... . .... .. .. lv Decline in reverence for rule of law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lv Comparison between present official law of England and presentdroit administratif of France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxi Conventions of the Constitution ... . . . .. . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. lxvi First question-What changes? .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .lxvi xxxi Law_i-l.indd 32 1/27/12 12:01 PM LAW OF THE CONSTITUTION Second question-What is the tendency of new conventions? . . . . . . . . . .. ... . Third question-Does experience of last thirty years confirm principles laid down as to connection between conventions and rule of law? . . . . . . . . . . . .... .. . Development during the last Thirty Years of New lxxii .lxxv Constitutional Ideas ............... lxxvi Two general observations on new constitutional ideas .lxxvi First observation-Slow growth of political or constitutional inventiveness . . . ......... lxxvi Second observation-These new ideas take no account of one of the ends which good legislation ought to attain .. .. lxxvii Criticism of the Four New Constitutional Ideas ..... . ... lxxx Woman Suffrage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxxx The causes of demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxxxi The two main lines of argument and answers .. lxxxi First argument-Every citizen entitled to vote . . . . . . . .lxxxi Second argument-Difference of sex no ground for difference of political rights . .. .... . lxxxii Proportional representation .............. . . .. lxxxiv The three propositions on which argument in favour of proportional representationis based . . .lxxxiv The truth of two first propositions admitted .... . . . .. . .. lxxxiv Objections to third proposition ..... . .lxxxvi First objection-Complication of system increases power of wire-pullers . . . . . . . .... ..... ......... ... lxxxvi Second objection-House of Commons is not mere House for Debate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxxxvii Third objection-Proportional representation increases number and evil of parliamentary groups ..... lxxxviii Federalism . . . . . . . . . . .xci Leading characteristics of federal government ... . . . ... xdii Characteristics of federal government in relation to Imperial Federalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xcviii First objection-Attempt to form federal constitution for Empire full of difficulty and peril . . . . . . . . . . .xcix xxxii Law_i-l.indd 33 1/27/12 12:01 PM ANALYSIS OF INTRODUCTION Second objection-No real necessity for formation of any new federal constitution for Empire . . .............. ciii Characteristics of federal government in relation to Home Rule all round (i.e. federalisation of United Kingdom) .. dv Vagueness of the ideas which support the policy of federalisation of United Kingdom (Home Rule all round) .... cv Specific objections to Home Rule all round . . . . . . . . . . .. cvi First objection-No desire for Federalism in any part of United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . .cvi Second objection-Federalisation of United Kingdom does not promote Imperial Federalism ............ . ... cvii Third objection-Such federalisation opposed to whole history of English constitutionalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cvii The Referendum ........... . ........... . . .. . .... . cviii Meaning of referendum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cviii Causes for demand for referendum .............. . . . .... ex The main argument against the referendum ....... . ...... cxi The main argumentin favour of the referendum ... ... .... cxiv Conclusions .. ... . . .. .. . .. . . . . .... cxvii xxxiii Law_i-l.indd 34 1/27/12 12:01 PM ...