Pre-appointment Hearings

In the United States a large number of appointments are subject to confirmation hearings. In the UK there is no similar requirement, but in recent years Select committees have experimented with "pre-appointment hearings". The Liaison Committee has today published a report on these hearings which says -

"we recommend a number of changes to the system as it stands.
 The list of posts to which the procedure applies should be refined. We propose, for the purposes of further discussion, a three-part list. Posts in the first tier are those we consider to be of sufficient constitutional significance as to require a process which is effectively a joint appointment by Government and the House of Commons. Posts in the second tier are those which we propose should be subject to an enhanced and improved version of the current process, and which should be subject to an "effective veto" by the House of Commons or its committees. For posts in the third tier we propose that a pre-appointment hearing should be at the discretion of committees.

The procedure for pre-appointment hearings should be refined to provide for:

greater consultation between Ministers and committees at the outset of the recruitment process on the definition of the post and the criteria for selection;

more information to be provided to committees in advance of hearings about the field of candidates from which the preferred candidate has been selected;
 a recognition that it may be appropriate for the Chair of a committee to discuss privately with a Minister any reservations the Committee may have about a candidate before issuing its report and before the Minister proceeds to a decision;
 a resolution of the House of Commons confirming appointments in certain cases.

It's a Sunday!

It's Sunday - so instead of a post on practice & procedure in the Washminster legislatures; or a Revision article for law or politics; I am going to write something on a leisure activity. "Six Days shalt thou Labour..." - a good prescription for a healthy body and mind!

As long term readers of this blog will know (and all previous posts can be accessed - back to the first post in March 2007 - either through the search engine - or by using the list in the Blog Archive) - I particularly enjoy watching American Football; listening to jazz; reading French (yes, for relaxation!!! - I find I enjoy it more than reading English - probably because I can't go into 'speed-reading mode'); watching or listening to political comedy; learning about history or just walking or cycling.

With the end of the summer holidays (last Monday was the final bank holiday until Christmas - and schools return this week) - there's lots of ways to relax.

Jazz Matters returns to the Stables in Milton Keynes. Once a month there is a live jazz session - and twice a month a talk (with music). Dame Cleo Laine will be the next guest in the "Desert Island Discs (without the island)" series on October 2nd - for more details press here. We are very privileged in Milton Keynes to have a series of walks organised. Great for health, but also good fun and you get to learn lots (history; natural history; more about our City). Further details here.

The NFL (American Football) season kicks of this week. There are lots of websites giving further information. My favourites are NFL and of course the site of the Washington Redskins. Britbowl is only a couple of weeks away, at Crystal Place - there is a facebook group. In October there will be an NFL match played at Wembley - Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Chicago Bears on October 23rd. More info here.

For something lighter - type in "political humour" into "Search this Blog" - and see my previous posts.

The English Legal System

What are the key characteristics of the English Legal System? [This analysis could also be used to map out the key features of other systems too].

* Sources of Law (Legislation; Case Law - and doctrine of Precedent)
* The Court Structure (Criminal; Civil; Appeals)
* The Judiciary (Types of Judge; Appointment & Tenure; Judicial Independence)
* The Legal Profession (Barristers; Solicitors; Training; Regulation)
* Other Persons (especially lay persons) involved in the system
* Criminal Process (Types of Offences; Procedure in Magistrates & Crown Courts)
* Civil Process (High Court; County Court; ADR)
* Access to Justice (Legal Aid

W201 Revision

A starting point in revision is to identify the key topics that need to be covered. Below is a MindMap illustrating the key parts of the W201 The Individual & the State course.
Once you can visualise the structure of the course - the next task is to draw out the key issues within each major subject. The way that the manuals are structured helps you do that.

For Example - Units One to Five cover "Constitutional Law"

1 Fundamental Values, constitutions and core constitutional principles
2 The sources of the UK Constitution
3&4 Parliamentary supremacy
5 The institutions of State in the UK

Each unit is subdivided - Unit One -
A Identifying fundamental values
B Constitutions: purpose and classification
C Core constitutional principles (1) Parliamentary supremacy (2) Responsible government
D Core constitutional principles (1) The Rule of Law (2) The Separation of Powers
Note the key themes and further divisions - B1, B2, B3.....

You might want to draw your own MindMap for each Subject and/or Unit.
Briefly summarise the key points as you revise - this involves condensing the information.

W200 Revision

A starting point in revision is to identify the key topics that need to be covered. Below is a MindMap illustrating the key parts of the W200 Understanding Law course. Unit 8, on Scottish Law is not examinable - so I haven't incorporated it.

Once you can visualise the structure of the course - the next task is to draw out the key issues within each major subject. The way that the manuals are structured helps you do that.

For Example - Units One and Two make up "Introduction to Law
1 Introduction and what is law
2 Terminology and sources of Law

Each unit is subdivided - Unit One -
A General Introduction to the course - no need to revise this
B What is Law?
C The Functions of Law

Note the key themes and further divisions - B1, B2, B3.....
You might want to draw your own MindMap for each Subject and/or Unit.
Briefly summarise the key points as you revise - this involves condensing the information.