The British Political Process: An Introduction,9780415049665

The British Political Process: An Introduction

by ;
ISBN13: 9780415049665
ISBN10: 0415049660
Format: Nonspecific Binding
Pub. Date: 2000-01-31
Publisher(s): Routledge
List Price: $68.95

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Summary

British Political Processis an exciting new text for students which clearly and simply explains the workings of the British political system. Written by those close to the political process, it provides an authoritative, reliable and manageable guide to understanding all the key elements of government and politics in Britain.

Table of Contents

List of figures
xi
List of tables
xii
List of contributors
xiv
Preface xv
The shape of British politics
1(28)
Introduction: Why politics matters
1(1)
The context of British politics
2(3)
Appearance and reality
5(1)
Change and continuity
6(2)
The perils of generalisation
8(2)
Political culture
10(13)
Three propositions: Society, history and territory
15(8)
Characteristics of the political process
23(1)
Authority versus accountability?
24(1)
The British model in question
25(2)
Notes
27(1)
Further reading
28(1)
The constitutional context
29(30)
What is a constitution?
29(2)
Does Britain have a constitution?
31(2)
Main features of the British constitution
33(4)
Constitutional concepts
37(15)
Soverignty and the supremacy of Parliament
37(5)
The rule of law
42(2)
The separation of powers
44(3)
Constitutional conventions
47(5)
Constitutional reform
52(5)
Notes
57(1)
Further reading
58(1)
Elections and electors
59(35)
Introduction
59(1)
The framework of elections
59(3)
Theories of representation
62(1)
Who can vote?
62(1)
Residence
63(1)
Registration
64(1)
Electoral registration and turnout
65(2)
Candidates
67(1)
Polling day
68(1)
Spending on elections
69(2)
Setting the boundaries
71(2)
Electoral behaviour: How people vote
73(3)
The 1997 general election
76(3)
The electoral system
79(7)
Electoral reform: The arguments
86(4)
Fairness
86(2)
The constituency link
88(1)
Effective government
88(1)
Effective representation
89(1)
Jenkins and after
90(1)
Conclusion
91(1)
Notes
92(1)
Further reading
93(1)
Parties and the party system
94(34)
Political recruitment
95(2)
Packaged choice
97(1)
Opinions and interests
98(4)
Political participation
102(2)
Election campaigns
104(2)
Argument and information
106(1)
Policy development
106(2)
Sustaining governments and oppositions
108(2)
The changing parties
110(10)
Ideology
110(2)
Structure
112(3)
Funding
115(5)
What kind of party?
120(3)
The party system
123(3)
Notes
126(1)
Further reading
127(1)
Pressures and publics
128(33)
Introduction
128(1)
Complain and redress
129(5)
The ombudsman
129(3)
Judicial review and public inquiries
132(2)
Performance, regulation and information
134(4)
The Citizen's Charter
134(1)
Audit, inspection and regulation
135(1)
Freedom of information
136(2)
Influence and pressure
138(7)
Pressure groups
138(3)
Lobbying
141(4)
Participation and polling
145(13)
Referendums
145(6)
Opinion polls
151(4)
New forms of participation
155(3)
Notes
158(1)
Further reading
159(2)
Campaigns and communications
161(34)
Introduction: The mass media and politics
161(1)
Bias and regulation
162(7)
Press bias
163(3)
Privacy and the press
166(1)
TV and radio: Due impartiality?
167(2)
Party political broadcasts
169(4)
Parliament and the media
173(3)
Broadcasting Parliament
173(2)
Press coverage of Parliament
175(1)
Licence to spin: The government's information machine
176(4)
The Government Information and Communication Service (GICS)
176(1)
The Prime Minister's press secretary
176(2)
Communication or politicisation?
178(2)
The Lobby
180(2)
Political campaigning
182(8)
The elements of a professional campaign
185(5)
What effect do the media have?
190(2)
The future of political communications
192(1)
Notes
193(1)
Further reading
194(1)
Parliament and politicians
195(45)
What is Parliament for?
195(2)
How Parliament works
197(7)
Parliament and government
197(1)
Parliament and party
197(4)
Two Houses: Commons and Lords
201(1)
Setting the agenda
202(1)
The parliamentary calendar
203(1)
MPs and what they do
204(7)
What Parliament does
211(20)
Debate - and the party battle
212(1)
Holding government to account
213(10)
Making the law
223(7)
Taxing and spending
230(1)
Modernisation and reform
231(6)
Modernising the Commons
231(1)
Reforming the Lords
232(5)
What future for Parliament?
237(1)
Notes
238(1)
Further reading
239(1)
Governing at the centre
240(47)
The central executive
240(1)
The map of Whitehall
240(1)
Civil servants
241(10)
Departments
243(1)
Key features of the civil service
243(3)
Ministerial accountability
246(3)
Selection on merit
249(1)
Political neutrality
250(1)
Ministers
251(12)
The life of a minister
252(2)
Ministers and civil servants
254(1)
Ministerial conduct: The code
255(1)
Cabinet collective responsibility
256(3)
Departures from collective responsibility: `Agreements to differ'
259(4)
The key players: Prime Minister, Chancellor and Cabinet
263(13)
Prime Minister
263(1)
Chancellor and Treasury
264(2)
Cabinet committees
266(2)
Decline and fall of Cabinet government?
268(1)
The Cabinet Office
269(1)
Development of the Prime Minister's Office
270(2)
Has the Prime Minister become a President?
272(2)
Prime Minister and Cabinet: The trends
274(2)
The wider executive territory
276(9)
Policy networks
276(1)
Quangos
277(1)
Nolan and after
278(3)
Change in the civil service
281(2)
The task force future?
283(2)
Conclusion
285(1)
Notes
285(1)
Further reading
286(1)
Governing beyond the centre
287(42)
Introduction
287(2)
The European Union
289(12)
Community of six to Union of fifteen
290(2)
Britain and Europe: A troubled relationship
292(4)
Making laws in Europe
296(1)
Where Britain fits in
297(3)
Britain in Brussels
300(1)
Looking ahead
300(1)
Devolution
301(9)
Scotland and Wales
302(7)
And England?
309(1)
Northern Ireland
310(5)
Local government
315(11)
Central-local relations
315(4)
How local government is organised
319(3)
Paying for local government
322(1)
Leaders and enablers: A new role for local government?
323(3)
Conclusion
326(1)
Notes
327(1)
Further reading
327(2)
Whither British politics?
329(21)
British politics in flux
329(5)
Is Britain moving towards a written constitution?
334(2)
Is there a coherent package of political reform?
336(1)
Is Britain breaking up?
337(3)
Is strong government giving way to accountable government?
340(3)
Is a realignment taking place in British politics?
343(3)
Conclusion
346(3)
Notes
349(1)
Further reading
349(1)
Appendices 350(29)
1 Key terms
350(5)
2 Key dates
355(3)
3 Key facts
358(17)
4 Key sources
375(4)
Index 379

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