The Legislature

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Legislature 6 The Legislature Key Terms Ad hoc Committees (p. 241) Also known as a working legislative committee, whose mandate is time-limited. Adjournment (p. 235) The temporary suspension of a legislative sitting until it reconvenes. Auditor General (p. 228) An independent officer responsible for auditing and reporting to the legislature regarding a government’s spending and operations. Backbenchers (p. 225) Rank-and-file legislators without cabinet responsibilities or other special legislative titles or duties. Bicameral legislature (p. 208) A legislative body consisting of two chambers (or “houses”). Bill (p. 241) A piece of draft legislation tabled in the legislature. Budget (p. 236) A document containing the government’s projected revenue, expenditures, and economic forecasts. Budget Estimates (p. 237) The more detailed, line-by-line statements of how each department will treat revenues and expenditures. By-election (p. 208) A district-level election held between general elections. Coalition government (p. 219) A hung parliament in which the cabinet consists of members from more than one political party. Committee of the Whole (p. 241) Another name for the body of all legislators. Confidence convention (p. 208)The practice under which a government must relinquish power when it loses a critical legislative vote. Inside Canadian Politics © Oxford University Press Canada, 2016 Contempt (p. 224) A formal denunciation of a member’s or government’s unparliamentary behaviour by the speaker. Consensus Government (p. 247) A system of governance that operates without political parties. Crossing the floor (p. 216) A situation in which a member of the legislature leaves one political party to join another party. Dissolution (p. 235) The process by which a Parliament or legislature is closed, resulting in a general election of new members. Earned majority (p. 217) A majority government in which the governing party’s share of the popular vote is at least 50 per cent. Filibuster (p. 245) The extension of parliamentary debate, typically by opposition members, to delay the passage of a bill. Fiscal Updates (p. 237) Semi-annual announcement of the state of the government’s economic, revenue, and spending projections. Fixed-date election law (p. 208) Legislation prescribing that general elections be held on a particular date, or range of dates, typically every four years. Free Vote (p. 228) A bill or motion in the legislature on which party members, except members of cabinet, are allowed to vote however they choose without sanction. Gazette (p. 245) The official journal listing government appointments, changes to laws and regulations, and other notices. House of Commons (p. 208) The lower house of the Canadian Parliament, consisting of elected members from across the country. House Leader (p. 224) A member of the legislature responsible for the overall performance of her or his party in the legislative process. Hung Parliament (p. 217) A government in which no single party controls at least half of the seats in the legislature. Leader of the official opposition (p. 225) Typically, the leader of the party with the second-most seats in the legislatures. Legislative Committee (p. 240) A small group of legislators assigned to deliberate and report back to the legislature. Lock-Up (p. 237) The process through which invited individuals are given confidential advance access to budget documents. Inside Canadian Politics © Oxford University Press Canada, 2016 Majority Government (p. 216) A government in which the governing party controls at least half of the seats in the legislature. Manufactured majority (p. 217) A majority government in which the governing party’s share of the popular vote is less than 50 per cent. Member of Parliament (MP) (p. 212) One of the over 300 representatives elected by Canadians to serve in the House of Commons. Motion (p. 245) A proposed parliamentary action. Minority Government (p. 218) A hung parliament in which the cabinet consists of members from one political party. Omnibus Legislation (p. 243) Bills or laws that address a wide variety of public policy issues in a single document. Opposition Days (p. 240) Time allotted to opposition parties to raise their own motions and legislation. Parliamentary privilege (p. 223) The legal immunity enjoyed by members of a legislature for things done or said in the course of their duties in the chamber. Party Caucus (p. 216) All the members of a political party who hold a seat in the legislature. Party Discipline (p. 217) Legislator’s strict adherence to the directives of their party leadership. Party Whip (p. 226) Individual member of the legislature responsible for ensuring caucus members toe the party line. Prorogation (p. 235) The process by which a legislative session is closed. Question Period (p. 239) The time allotted for members to ask oral questions of the government in the legislature. Regulation (p. 245) A directive passed by the executive specifying how the primary legislation is to be administered. Senate (p. 209) Also known as the Red Chamber, the upper house of the Canadian Parliament, consisting of members chosen by the executive. Senator (p. 209) One of the appointed members of the upper house of the Canadian Parliament. Inside Canadian Politics © Oxford University Press Canada, 2016 Speaker (p. 222) The member of the legislature responsible for presiding over its rules and general decorum. Speech from the Throne (p. 234) Document read by the governor general or lieutenant governor, officially opening a new session of the legislature and detailing the government’s plans. Standing Committee (p. 241) Also known as a permanent legislative committee, whose existence is defined by standing orders. Standing orders (p. 237) The body of rules governing the conduct of the legislature. Unicameral legislature (p. 208) A legislative body consisting of one chamber (or “house”). Review Questions Multiple Choice Questions 1. Aside from the House of Commons, which of the following makes up the Canadian legislature at the federal level? a) Supreme Court of Canada b) Cabinet c) Senate d) Governor General 2. Which two provinces have 24 senators each? a) Quebec and Ontario b) Ontario and Alberta c) Quebec and Alberta d) Quebec and British Columbia 3. Which of the following provinces has the least amount of senators? a) Newfoundland b) Manitoba c) Nova Scotia d) Prince Edward Island Inside Canadian Politics © Oxford University Press Canada, 2016 4. Which of the following are options for a hung parliament? a) Earned government b) Manufactured government c) Coalition d) All of the above 5. How many coalition governments have been formed at the federal level in Canada? a) None b) One c) Two d) Three 6. Typically the leader of the party with the second-most seats in the legislature is known as which of the following? a) Party whip b) Government whip c) House leader d) Leader of the opposition 7. What does a parliamentary session begin with? a) An election b) Dissolution c) Speech from the Throne d) Prorogation 8. What term refers to the period of time given to opposition members to ask questions from government members? a) Private member business b) Statements by ministers c) Government orders d) Oral Question period 9. Money bills can only be introduced in the House of Commons. True or False? a) True b) False 10. At which stage of the passage of a bill is the bill scrutinized on a clause by clause basis? a) Second reading b) Committee Stage c) Third Reading d) Report Stage Inside Canadian Politics © Oxford University Press Canada, 2016 Discussion Questions 1. Describe the legislative process in which a bill becomes law. 2. Describe a typical day of a Member of Parliament in session. 3. Why has there been a strong push towards Senate reform in Canada? Further Resources Websites Office of the Auditor General of Canada http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/index.htm The official website of the Auditor General of Canada includes links to auditor general reports, senate expenses, and various other expense and commission reports. Canadian Senate http://sen.parl.gc.ca/portal/home-e.htm The website of the Senate of Canada provides specific information on senators and its members. House of Commons http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/compilations/HouseOfCommons.aspx?Menu=HoC This is probably one of the most significant websites for this chapter, as it details information about the House of Commons, its members, information on the different levels of government, procedures and questions, as well as information regarding representation. Speech from the Throne http://www.speech.gc.ca/ The Speech from the throne is an important aspect of Canadian parliamentary systems as it initiates the beginning of a new parliamentary session. This website includes full text versions of the speech as well as other information on diversity, open government, and many other issues addressed in parliament. 2015-2015 Budget Estimates http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hgw-cgf/finances/pgs-pdg/gepme-pdgbpd/20152016/me-bpdtb- eng.asp Inside Canadian Politics © Oxford University Press Canada, 2016 This website is dedicated to documents detailing budget, government expenses, and expenditure plans and estimates. Parliament of Canada - http://www.parl.gc.ca/default.aspx?Language=E The official website of the Parliament of Canada includes information on parliamentary business, chamber and current business, and information on bills, procedures, petitions, journals, and many other aspects of the Parliament of Canada. Bills before Parliament http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/Home.aspx?language=E&ParliamentSession=42-1 This archived website lists and organizes all current and past bills that are going through or were passed before Parliament. Parliamentary Committees http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/List The official website of all House of Commons Committees is a great website that also provides additional links to the specific committees.
Recommended publications
  • Understanding Stephen Harper
    HARPER Edited by Teresa Healy www.policyalternatives.ca Photo: Hanson/THE Tom CANADIAN PRESS Understanding Stephen Harper The long view Steve Patten CANAdIANs Need to understand the political and ideological tem- perament of politicians like Stephen Harper — men and women who aspire to political leadership. While we can gain important insights by reviewing the Harper gov- ernment’s policies and record since the 2006 election, it is also essential that we step back and take a longer view, considering Stephen Harper’s two decades of political involvement prior to winning the country’s highest political office. What does Harper’s long record of engagement in conservative politics tell us about his political character? This chapter is organized around a series of questions about Stephen Harper’s political and ideological character. Is he really, as his support- ers claim, “the smartest guy in the room”? To what extent is he a con- servative ideologue versus being a political pragmatist? What type of conservatism does he embrace? What does the company he keeps tell us about his political character? I will argue that Stephen Harper is an economic conservative whose early political motivations were deeply ideological. While his keen sense of strategic pragmatism has allowed him to make peace with both conservative populism and the tradition- alism of social conservatism, he continues to marginalize red toryism within the Canadian conservative family. He surrounds himself with Governance 25 like-minded conservatives and retains a long-held desire to transform Canada in his conservative image. The smartest guy in the room, or the most strategic? When Stephen Harper first came to the attention of political observers, it was as one of the leading “thinkers” behind the fledgling Reform Party of Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Politician Overboard: Jumping the Party Ship
    INFORMATION, ANALYSIS AND ADVICE FOR THE PARLIAMENT INFORMATION AND RESEARCH SERVICES Research Paper No. 4 2002–03 Politician Overboard: Jumping the Party Ship DEPARTMENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY ISSN 1328-7478 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2003 Except to the extent of the uses permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including information storage and retrieval systems, without the prior written consent of the Department of the Parliamentary Library, other than by Senators and Members of the Australian Parliament in the course of their official duties. This paper has been prepared for general distribution to Senators and Members of the Australian Parliament. While great care is taken to ensure that the paper is accurate and balanced, the paper is written using information publicly available at the time of production. The views expressed are those of the author and should not be attributed to the Information and Research Services (IRS). Advice on legislation or legal policy issues contained in this paper is provided for use in parliamentary debate and for related parliamentary purposes. This paper is not professional legal opinion. Readers are reminded that the paper is not an official parliamentary or Australian government document. IRS staff are available to discuss the paper's contents with Senators and Members and their staff but not with members of the public. Published by the Department of the Parliamentary Library, 2003 I NFORMATION AND R ESEARCH S ERVICES Research Paper No. 4 2002–03 Politician Overboard: Jumping the Party Ship Sarah Miskin Politics and Public Administration Group 24 March 2003 Acknowledgments I would like to thank Martin Lumb and Janet Wilson for their help with the research into party defections in Australia and Cathy Madden, Scott Bennett, David Farrell and Ben Miskin for reading and commenting on early drafts.
    [Show full text]
  • Forming a Government in the Event of a Hung Parliament: the UK's Recognition Rules in Comparative
    Forming a government in the event of a hung parliament The UK’s recognition rules in comparative context Petra Schleiter Department of Politics and International Relations University of Oxford Valerie Belu Department of Politics and International Relations University of Oxford (Graduate Student) Robert Hazell The Constitution Unit University College London May 2016 ISBN: 978-1-903903-73-5 Published by: The Constitution Unit School of Public Policy University College London 29-31 Tavistock Square London WC1H 9QU United Kingdom Tel: 020 7679 4977 Fax: 020 7679 4978 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/ Department of Politics and International Relations Manor Road Building Manor Road Oxford OX1 3UQ United Kingdom Tel: 01865 278700 Email: [email protected] Web: www.politics.ox.ac.uk © The Constitution Unit, UCL & DPIR, University of Oxford 2016 This report is sold subject to the condition that is shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. First Published May 2016 Front cover image copyright Crown Copyright/ Number 10 Flickr 2009 Contents Executive summary ......................................................................................................................... 1 The need for clearer rules on government formation ....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Crossing the Floor Roy Douglas a Failure of Leadership Liberal Defections 1918–29 Senator Jerry Grafstein Winston Churchill As a Liberal J
    Journal of Issue 25 / Winter 1999–2000 / £5.00 Liberal DemocratHISTORY Crossing the Floor Roy Douglas A Failure of Leadership Liberal Defections 1918–29 Senator Jerry Grafstein Winston Churchill as a Liberal J. Graham Jones A Breach in the Family Megan and Gwilym Lloyd George Nick Cott The Case of the Liberal Nationals A re-evaluation Robert Maclennan MP Breaking the Mould? The SDP Liberal Democrat History Group Issue 25: Winter 1999–2000 Journal of Liberal Democrat History Political Defections Special issue: Political Defections The Journal of Liberal Democrat History is published quarterly by the Liberal Democrat History Group 3 Crossing the floor ISSN 1463-6557 Graham Lippiatt Liberal Democrat History Group Editorial The Liberal Democrat History Group promotes the discussion and research of 5 Out from under the umbrella historical topics, particularly those relating to the histories of the Liberal Democrats, Liberal Tony Little Party and the SDP. The Group organises The defection of the Liberal Unionists discussion meetings and publishes the Journal and other occasional publications. 15 Winston Churchill as a Liberal For more information, including details of publications, back issues of the Journal, tape Senator Jerry S. Grafstein records of meetings and archive and other Churchill’s career in the Liberal Party research sources, see our web site: www.dbrack.dircon.co.uk/ldhg. 18 A failure of leadership Hon President: Earl Russell. Chair: Graham Lippiatt. Roy Douglas Liberal defections 1918–29 Editorial/Correspondence Contributions to the Journal – letters, 24 Tory cuckoos in the Liberal nest? articles, and book reviews – are invited. The Journal is a refereed publication; all articles Nick Cott submitted will be reviewed.
    [Show full text]
  • Constitutional Afterlife: the Onc Tinuing Impact of Thailand’S Post-Political Constitution Tom Ginsburg
    University of Chicago Law School Chicago Unbound Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers Working Papers 2008 Constitutional Afterlife: The onC tinuing Impact of Thailand’s Post-Political Constitution Tom Ginsburg Follow this and additional works at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/ public_law_and_legal_theory Part of the Law Commons Chicago Unbound includes both works in progress and final versions of articles. Please be aware that a more recent version of this article may be available on Chicago Unbound, SSRN or elsewhere. Recommended Citation Tom Ginsburg, "Constitutional Afterlife: The onC tinuing Impact of Thailand’s Post-Political Constitution" (University of Chicago Public Law & Legal Theory Working Paper No. 252, 2008). This Working Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Working Papers at Chicago Unbound. It has been accepted for inclusion in Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers by an authorized administrator of Chicago Unbound. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CHICAGO PUBLIC LAW AND LEGAL THEORY WORKING PAPER NO. 252 CONSTITUTIONAL AFTERLIFE: THE CONTINUING IMPACT OF THAILAND’S POST‐POLITICAL CONSTITUTION Tom Ginsburg THE LAW SCHOOL THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO November 2008 This paper can be downloaded without charge at the Public Law and Legal Theory Working Paper Series: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/academics/publiclaw/index.html and The Social Science Research Network Electronic Paper Collection. Constitutional Afterlife: The Continuing Impact of Thailand’s Post-Political Constitution Tom Ginsburg∗ Forthcoming, International Journal of Constitutional Law, January 2009 Thailand’s constitution of 1997 introduced profound changes into the country’s governance, creating a “postpolitical” democratic structure in which an intricate array of guardian institutions served to limit the role of elected politicians.
    [Show full text]
  • Management Challenges at the Centre of Government: Coalition Situations and Government Transitions
    SIGMA Papers No. 22 Management Challenges at the Centre of Government: OECD Coalition Situations and Government Transitions https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5kml614vl4wh-en Unclassified CCET/SIGMA/PUMA(98)1 Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques OLIS : 10-Feb-1998 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Dist. : 11-Feb-1998 __________________________________________________________________________________________ Or. Eng. SUPPORT FOR IMPROVEMENT IN GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (SIGMA) A JOINT INITIATIVE OF THE OECD/CCET AND EC/PHARE Unclassified CCET/SIGMA/PUMA Cancels & replaces the same document: distributed 26-Jan-1998 ( 98 ) 1 MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES AT THE CENTRE OF GOVERNMENT: COALITION SITUATIONS AND GOVERNMENT TRANSITIONS SIGMA PAPERS: No. 22 Or. En 61747 g . Document complet disponible sur OLIS dans son format d'origine Complete document available on OLIS in its original format CCET/SIGMA/PUMA(98)1 THE SIGMA PROGRAMME SIGMA — Support for Improvement in Governance and Management in Central and Eastern European Countries — is a joint initiative of the OECD Centre for Co-operation with the Economies in Transition and the European Union’s Phare Programme. The initiative supports public administration reform efforts in thirteen countries in transition, and is financed mostly by Phare. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental organisation of 29 democracies with advanced market economies. The Centre channels the Organisation’s advice and assistance over a wide range of economic issues to reforming countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Phare provides grant financing to support its partner countries in Central and Eastern Europe to the stage where they are ready to assume the obligations of membership of the European Union.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Process Lpbooklet 2016 15Th Edition.Qxp Booklet00-01 12Th Edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 1
    LPBkltCvr_2016_15th edition-1.qxp_BkltCvr00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 2:49 PM Page 1 South Carolina’s Legislative Process LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 1 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 2 October 2016 15th Edition LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 3 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS The contents of this pamphlet consist of South Carolina’s Legislative Process , pub - lished by Charles F. Reid, Clerk of the South Carolina House of Representatives. The material is reproduced with permission. LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 4 LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 5 South Carolina’s Legislative Process HISTORY o understand the legislative process, it is nec - Tessary to know a few facts about the lawmak - ing body. The South Carolina Legislature consists of two bodies—the Senate and the House of Rep - resentatives. There are 170 members—46 Sena - tors and 124 Representatives representing dis tricts based on population. When these two bodies are referred to collectively, the Senate and House are together called the General Assembly. To be eligible to be a Representative, a person must be at least 21 years old, and Senators must be at least 25 years old. Members of the House serve for two years; Senators serve for four years. The terms of office begin on the Monday following the General Election which is held in even num - bered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion, Faith and Spirituality in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
    Feature Religion, Faith and Spirituality in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia This article aims to further a conversation about the role of religion, faith, and spirituality in public institutions in Canada by examining the practice of prayer in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The authors provide a background of prayer in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, an overview of the differing customs in provincial and territorial legislative assemblies in Canada, and also public controversies and court cases which have arisen in response to these conventions. Following an analysis of prayers delivered at the opening of legislative sessions of the 2017 CanLIIDocs 247 Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1992 to 2016, the article concludes by comparing the content of prayers delivered to self-reported rates of religiosity, spirituality, and faith amongst the general British Columbia population. Chardaye Bueckert, Robert Hill, Megan Parisotto and Mikayla Roberts Introduction prayers delivered to self-reported rates of religiosity, spirituality, and faith amongst the general British Contemporary Canada is largely conceived of Columbia population. By examining these opening as a secular society; yet some historic religious prayers, we hope to illuminate the representation of elements remain entrenched in Canadian democratic different religions within the Legislative Assembly of institutions, including the practice of prayer in British Columbia. It is important to note that due to provincial legislatures. This article aims to further data limitations, this examination will be a “snapshot” a conversation about the role of religion, faith, and of faith-based conventions in the Legislature Assembly spirituality in public institutions in Canada by of British Columbia, rather than a comprehensive examining the practice of prayer in the Legislative analysis of how different faith groups are represented Assembly of British Columbia.
    [Show full text]
  • How Electoral Agency Shapes the Political Logic of Costs and Benefits
    Coalition Parties versus Coalitions of Parties: How Electoral Agency Shapes the Political Logic of Costs and Benefits by Kathleen Bawn Department of Political Science UCLA and Frances Rosenbluth Department of Political Science Yale University Draft 1.10 August 2002 Abstract This paper argues that governments formed from post-election coalitions (majority coalition governments in PR systems) and pre-election coalitions (majority parties in SMD systems) aggregate the interests of voters in systematically different ways. We show that the multiple policy dimensional policy space that emerges from PR rules motivate parties in the government coalition to logroll projects among themselves without internalizing the costs of those projects in the same way that a majoritarian party would be forced to do. The size of government should therefore tend to be larger in PR systems. We further show that, although centrifugal electoral incentives dominate in PR systems, some incentives towards coalescence across groups and across parties exist through the greater likelihood that large parties have in becoming a member of a minimal winning coalition of parties. This paper was prepared for presentation at the annual meetings of the American Political Science Association, held in Boston, Massachusetts, August 28-September 2. Frances Rosenbluth would like to thank the Yale Provost Office and the Yale Leitner Program in International Political Economy for funding. We gratefully acknowledge the able research assistance of Abbie Erler and Mathias Hounpke in conducting this research. Introduction Democratic government is government by coalition. In many parliamentary systems, governments are explicit multi-party coalitions. Even in cases of single party government, a party that wins a parliamentary majority represents -- almost by definition -- a coalition of interests.
    [Show full text]
  • AFRICA RISK CONSULTING Ghana Monthly Briefing December 2020
    AFRICA RISK CONSULTING Ghana Monthly Briefing December 2020 Ghana Summary 17 December 2020 President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo (2017-present) secures a second four-year term in a tight presidential election but without a majority in parliament and his opponent, former President John Mahama (2012-2017), refusing to concede defeat. Economists are divided in opinion on how the current uncertain political environment will impact economic activity and local and foreign investment in the country. The election was largely peaceful but marred by patches of violence during counting and collation of results, with six recorded election-related deaths. Akufo Addo wins re-election, opposition claims fraud Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) announced on 9 December that President Nana Akufo-Addo (2017-present) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had secured 51.59% of the valid votes cast in presidential polls held on 7 December, beating his opponent and predecessor, former President John Mahama (2012-2017) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who obtained 47.366%.1 Mahama has rejected the election results, describing them as “fraudulent”, and has vowed to take up a legal battle. ARC’s sources in Ghana say there is a tense atmosphere in the country as the nation awaits the next move by the opposition NDC – although the election was largely peaceful. The two major parties failed to gain an absolute majority in the country’s 275-seat parliament, with the NDC wiping out of the NPP’s 63-seat majority. The ECC announced on 17 December that the NDC won the remaining seat to be counted in the legislative elections, Sene West, matching the ruling party’s tally and creating a hung parliament.
    [Show full text]
  • Anti-Defection Law: 1
    SUPREMO AMICUS VOLUME 24 ISSN 2456-9704 ______________________________________________________________________________ ANTI-DEFECTION LAW: 1. AN OVERVIEW ANNIHILATION OF DISSENT India, along with several other Democratic VERSUS CONSTITUTIONAL ETHICS Sovereign Nations have seen long history of unstable government. The shifting of By Pritika Negi and Sampada Pande political allegiance by the members of one From Gujarat National Law University political party to another, in the desire of gaining political powers by occupying the position of Cabinet Minister, has resulted into ABSTRACT grave problems and subsequently into, political corruption. On one hand, where shifting of allegiance caused simply minor Relative studies on the topic of anti-defection problems like shift of majority during voting are expanding, and generating essential for important resolution, on the other hand, theoretical debate in the context of its such shift at times led to shift in complete constitutional ethics. Its provisions are government majority, resulting into re- criticised for its undemocratic ideals. The elections. One of the popular incidents of major issue prevailing in contemporary world deflection was seen in the year 1967, when remains about the unconstitutionality of the the phrase “Gaya Ram, Aya Ram” became anti-defection laws. However, measures have famous in order to limn the situation of been taken to bring clarity of the law’s legislator Gaya Ram, who crossed the floor validity. The aim of the research article is to three times in a row. This wasn’t the only contribute to this debate through critically instance of defection, stats indicate that in a analysing the ‘Anti-defection law’ and its span of 10 years, i.e., in early 1960s, flaws and strength.
    [Show full text]
  • Lesotho Parliamentary Elections
    Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group LESOTHO PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 26 May 2012 COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT Map of Lesotho Source: Economist Intelligence Unit i Commonwealth Observer Group Lesotho Parliamentary Elections 26 May 2012 Table of Contents Chapter 1 .......................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1 Terms of Reference .............................................................................. 1 Activities .............................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 .......................................................................................... 3 POLITICAL BACKGROUND .............................................................. 3 The Mixed Member Proportional System (MMP) ...................................... 3 Mediation efforts .................................................................................. 5 Formation of the Democratic Congress (DC) ........................................... 7 CHAPTER 3 ....................................................................................... 8 THE ELECTORAL FRAMEWORK AND ADMINISTRATION ................. 8 The Constitution ................................................................................... 8 The National Assembly Electoral Act (2011) ........................................... 8 The Electoral System ...........................................................................
    [Show full text]