Lord Acton's Dictum

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Welcome to Washminster

Arguing About Stare Decisis

(the doctrine of precedent)

Does it provide -
Consistency?

• Certainty?
• Efficiency?
• Flexibility?

Or does it promote
Inflexibility?

• Uncertainty?
• Fixity?
• Unconstitutionality?

[Slapper and Kelly briefly outline the arguments on  pages 144-153 of their book "The English Legal System - 14th Edition].




Other books develop these - and put other arguments. If you are taking a Law Degree exam (English Legal System - or the Open University's W200 course), it is worth summarising the arguments about the strengths and weaknesses of the doctrine of precedent. Then prepare short arguments - one version arguing for the utility of the doctrine and other arguing that it has more disadvantages than advantages. How would you put across each argument? How would you anticipate objections? Should you face an invitation in an exam to discuss precedent you'll have developed the knowledge and flexibility to answer it. Remember, there is no right answer. An examiner is looking for evidence of critical evaluation; and an ability to present a logical argument.

You should also be able to explain the "mechanics" of the doctrine - can you describe and explain

• the significance of law reporting?
• the rules about which courts bind which?
• when previous decisions are not binding? [and Young v Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd]
• 'Ratio decidendi'?
• 'Obiter dictum'?
• Overruling?
• the Practical importance of Precedent?

Standards in the House of Commons

The House of Commons wants your views on the standards system

 

The Standards Committee is holding an inquiry into the standards system in the House of Commons and is inviting written submissions from the public to inform the inquiry’s findings.

 

The inquiry is looking at the current system for considering complaints about MPs and ways the system could be improved.

 

The areas being examined include:

 

·         self-regulation in the House of Commons by MPs

 

·         the role of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and the Standards Committee

 

·         investigating complaints about MPs

 

·         penalties for MPs

 

To help inform submissions to the inquiry, a sub-committee looking at this issue has published an ‘issues and questions’ paper, setting out key questions and providing detailed background information.

 

The ‘issues and questions’ paper covers:

 

·         the role of MPs in the context of political parties, Parliament and the electorate

 

·         the current House of Commons standards system, including:

 

o   the role of the Standards Committee

o   the independent Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

 

How to submit evidence

 

Detailed information on the preferred format for written evidence and where to send it is on the Committee’s webpages here: The Standards Review sub-committee issues call for evidence

 

If you would like to contribute a written submission to this inquiry, please read the ‘issues and questions’ paper for the key questions being asked by the Standards Committee and for background information on the current system in place. The deadline for submissions is Friday 8 August.

 

General guidance on submitting evidence to Select Committees is also available online.

 

More information

 

·         Standards Committee

 

·         Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

The Queen's Speech

For information and analysis of today's speech - where (the poor) Queen has to announce her Government's programme as if it were her own [There must be a ph.d. for someone comparing the language of these speeches during her reign - and how it changes with administrations].

Go to:

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27693435
Daily Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/queens-speech/10874138/Queens-Speech-Live.html
The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/queens-speech