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Biographical note
Philip Norton (Lord Norton of Louth) is professor of government and director of the Centre for Legislative Studies in the University of Hull. His publications include 28 books, including Parliament in British Politics (2005), The British Polity (2010) and Parliaments in Western Europe (3 vols, 1998–2002). He has served as president of the Politics Association and of the British Politics Group in the USA and as co-chair of the Research Committee of Legislative Specialists of the International Political Science Association. He was elevated to the peerage and served as first chairman of the house of lords select committee on the constitution.- Examines in depth the legislation that has shaped the constitution of the United Kingdom since the passage of the Parliament Act 1911
- Provides a systematic study of the reasons for the introduction of the measures, their passage through Parliament
- Discusses the effects of legislation and the extent to which the laws both achieved their purpose and their unintended consequences
- Each contribution is written by a specialist in the field
1. Introduction: A Century of Change (Philip Norton).
2. Hedging and Ditching: The Parliament Act 1911 (Chris Ballinger).
3. Laying the Foundations of the Modern Voting System: The Representation of the People Act 1918 (Robert Blackburn).
4. Divided Loyalties: The European Communities Act 1972 (Philip Norton).
5. Extending the Role of the Courts: The Human Rights Act 1998 (David Feldman).
6. Enacting Scotland’s ‘Written Constitution’: The Scotland Act 1998 (Barry K. Winetrobe).
7. Stages and Muddles: The House of Lords Act 1999 (Alexandra Kelso).
Index.
The book encompasses Acts that have served to reshape the constitutional landscape of the nation. It also takes a comprehensive look at the major constitutional landmarks that have shaped the relationship between the following: the two Houses of Parliament (the Parliament Act 1911, the House of Lords Act 1999); the different regions of the United Kingdom (the Scotland Act 1998); the UK and the rest of Europe (the European Communities Act 1972); Parliament and the people (the Representation of the People Act 1918), and the state and the individual (the Human Rights Act 1998).
It focuses especially on the measures passed in the period since 1970 which have served to challenge the basic structure of the Westminster model of government, and which some commentators believe has heralded a new constitution for the United Kingdom.
Contributions throughout the book are written by specialists in the field, and Lord Norton is an acknowledged expert on British constitutional legislation. As such, he is ideally placed to edit this fascinating and timely volume.