Announcement

This is post number 1776 on Washminster. Appropriately it is time for a break.

As many of you know, I am moving towards the final stages of my doctorate. I am setting aside the next 100 days to concentrate upon writing up the thesis. Due to the other demands on my time (I am continuing to tutor on the Open University’s W200; W201 and Y186 courses), I feel that it would be best for me to partially suspend Washminster until early August. I will be posting the occasional article – particularly where they relate to the courses I am teaching, or have particular important in relation to practice and procedure in the UK Parliament and US Congress. So please do occasionally pop back to Washminster during this period.

House of Lords Reform

Today the Joint Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill

The Report comes in three volumes, which can be accessed here - Vol 1; Vol 2; and Vol 3. There is an alternative report prepared by a number of members of the committee available at http://www.houseoflordsreform.com/

A debate will be held in the House of Lords next Monday.

Homeward Bound

The trip to Washington is almost over. I'm writing this at Dulles Airport. From the window of Terminal B(where I am sitting) the Space Shuttle (which flew over the city a few hours ago is sitting. I've posted a photograph on my Facebook page (this is an iPad1 - so I can't take and save photos). It's been an interesting fortnight. Yesterday I spent the afternoon in the gallery of the House of Representatives - and chatted to some interesting people. Unlike the Commons and Lords - business is not continuous. I'll be writing up some of my experiences in the days to come. Now I have an opportunity to catch up with some reading as I fly home.

A Park for a Chief Justice

Washington Spring

This was taken in John Marshall Park