...source, and your own knowledge, explain why government needs an effective Parliament c) Analyse the main factors that limit the effectiveness of Parliament Jan 2010 a) With reference to source, what changes to the second chamber are proposed? b) With reference to the source, and your own knowledge, explain the arguments for a fully or partly elected chamber c) Make out a case against an elected second chamber Jan 2011 a) With reference to the source, describe two functions of the House of Commons b) With reference to the source, and your own knowledge, explain how the House of Commons can control the power of government c) To what extent is the House of Commons effective in carrying out its various functions? May 2011 a) With reference to the source, describe three proposals that seek to strengthen parliamentary representation by increasing popular participation b) With reference to the source, and your own knowledge, explain how three of these proposals seek to make government more accountable to Parliament c) To what extent will the coalition government’s proposals bring about an effective reform of Parliament? Jan 2012 a) With reference to the source, why are legislative committees needed? b) With reference to the source, and your own knowledge, explain the ways in which backbench MPs can call government to account c) To what extent has the formation of a coalition altered the relationship between Parliament and government? Jan 2013 a) With reference to the source...
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...answer which will be adequate for the particular question. It is extremely important that you take care in interpreting what the actual question is asking, and adapt your knowledge of the topic accordingly. The Examiners can spot a „rote-learned‟ preprepared answer and it is rarely adequate for more than a bare pass, if that. A related issue concerns relevance. One of the main purposes of the 15-minute reading time is to enable candidates to read and reflect on what the questions require, and a correct interpretation is crucial for success. Too often Examiners find that candidates offer a reasonable or good answer on a topic which is not on the examination paper, and answers such as this cannot achieve a pass mark. This emphasises the importance of taking care in reading the paper. Another general difficulty lies in the length of answers given. While there can be no fixed required length of answer – some very good answers can...
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...Assess the strengths of the UK constitution [25 marks] A constitution is a set of principles, that may be uncodified (unwritten) or codified (written), that relates to how power is distributed within a political system, and establishes how a state is to be organised and governed. Constitutions seek to establish duties, powers and functions of various institutions of government and contribute to defining the relationship between the state and the individuals, for example, defining the extent of civil liberty. The UK constitution helps provide legitimacy to those, of which, are in power, but also limits government power. Although the UK constitution is uncodified, as a whole, parts of the constitution are codified, for example, the European Convention on Human Rights is a codified part of British Law, even though it was designed and created by the Council of Europe, in 1950. Firstly, the UK constitution, being uncodified, means that it is flexible and can be easily adapted to changing circumstances, which could include referendum use and the continuous changing role of the House of Lords. The UK constitution is often called 'organic', which means that the constitution is rooted in society, and consequently means that when society and it's values change the UK constitution can adapt and change to society, without delay or hesitation. Furthermore, because the UK constitution is uncodified, it allows Parliament to pass Acts, without long delays and also allows new, uncodified...
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...cl. 3 I. INTRODUCTION In the wake of the American Revolution, neither the Continental Congress nor the States acting on their own could respond effectively to the external and internal trade disputes that threatened the new country's prosperity and peace. "It may be doubted," wrote Chief Justice John Marshall, "whether any of the evils proceeding from the feebleness of the federal government, contributed more to that great [constitutional] revolution which introduced the [modern constitutional] system, than the deep and general conviction, that commerce ought to be regulated by Congress." (1) Accordingly, although the federal government was to be limited to exercising only enumerated powers, those powers included the power to regulate commerce, thus remedying this deficiency in the Articles of Confederation. Regrettably, but perhaps inevitably, "[t]he ink was not yet dry on the Constitution when its revision began." (2) Almost immediately, Congress began pressing beyond specifically enumerated powers granted it in Article I. As a result, today, Americans encounter a national government far more expansive than the Framers and men of their generation could ever have imagined. Despite this expansion of federal power, however, certain actions and policies of the several States increasingly threaten the free flow of goods and services in interstate commerce; we still face the problem that led to the creation of the federal Constitution. Unsure about the scope of the federal...
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...FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF COURTS BUDGET Programme Director, Tererai Mafukidze Members of the South African Judges Commission, Members of the Venice Commission Various Professionals and members here present, Distinguished Guests, Registrars from various parts of the world, Ladies and Gentlemen Protocol observed. I am humbled to address this auspicious gathering of the South African Judges Commission and Venice Commissions Registrar’s workshop held in our most beautiful land, South Africa. Allow me, therefore, to extend a warm word of welcome to all newly appointed Registrars and also pay recognition to those of you who have been a pillar of strength at your various organizations ensuring enhanced administrative support and capacitating the Judiciary that you serve. You are indeed a critical foundation on which the future of judicial effectiveness lies. Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been requested to talk about Financial Management, Management of Courts Budgets and its Challenges. I am sure you will agree with me that anyone requested to talk about this topic, can do so for the whole day or two or even a week. I am saying so precisely because financial Management, Management of Courts Budget and its Challenges are extensive and to sum this up in 30 minutes is in itself a challenge. INTRODUCTION It is said that if managers expect their subordinates to adopt any of their wishes or characteristics, such as frugal qualities in the workplace, managers themselves must...
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...FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF COURTS BUDGET Programme Director, Tererai Mafukidze Members of the South African Judges Commission, Members of the Venice Commission Various Professionals and members here present, Distinguished Guests, Registrars from various parts of the world, Ladies and Gentlemen Protocol observed. I am humbled to address this auspicious gathering of the South African Judges Commission and Venice Commissions Registrar’s workshop held in our most beautiful land, South Africa. Allow me, therefore, to extend a warm word of welcome to all newly appointed Registrars and also pay recognition to those of you who have been a pillar of strength at your various organizations ensuring enhanced administrative support and capacitating the Judiciary that you serve. You are indeed a critical foundation on which the future of judicial effectiveness lies. Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been requested to talk about Financial Management, Management of Courts Budgets and its Challenges. I am sure you will agree with me that anyone requested to talk about this topic, can do so for the whole day or two or even a week. I am saying so precisely because financial Management, Management of Courts Budget and its Challenges are extensive and to sum this up in 30 minutes is in itself a challenge. INTRODUCTION It is said that if managers expect their subordinates to adopt any of their wishes or characteristics, such as frugal qualities in the workplace, managers themselves must...
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...FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF COURTS BUDGET Programme Director, Tererai Mafukidze Members of the South African Judges Commission, Members of the Venice Commission Various Professionals and members here present, Distinguished Guests, Registrars from various parts of the world, Ladies and Gentlemen Protocol observed. I am humbled to address this auspicious gathering of the South African Judges Commission and Venice Commissions Registrar’s workshop held in our most beautiful land, South Africa. Allow me, therefore, to extend a warm word of welcome to all newly appointed Registrars and also pay recognition to those of you who have been a pillar of strength at your various organizations ensuring enhanced administrative support and capacitating the Judiciary that you serve. You are indeed a critical foundation on which the future of judicial effectiveness lies. Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been requested to talk about Financial Management, Management of Courts Budgets and its Challenges. I am sure you will agree with me that anyone requested to talk about this topic, can do so for the whole day or two or even a week. I am saying so precisely because financial Management, Management of Courts Budget and its Challenges are extensive and to sum this up in 30 minutes is in itself a challenge. INTRODUCTION It is said that if managers expect their subordinates to adopt any of their wishes or characteristics, such as frugal qualities in the workplace, managers themselves...
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...Oaks, California 91411 (818) 714-2226 (818) 714-2216 Fax paulchoi@mail.npu.edu Introduction Syllabus Book Attendance Integrity Policy What to expect from the class Functions of Law 1. Keeping the peace (Including making certain activities crimes) 2. Shaping moral standards (e.g., enacting laws that discourage drug and alcohol abuse) 3. Promoting social justice (e.g., enacting statutes that prohibit discrimination in employment) 4. Maintaining the status quo (e.g., passing laws preventing the forceful overthrow of the government) 5. Facilitating orderly change (e.g., passing statutes only after considerable study, debate, and public input) 6. Providing a basis for compromise (approximately 90 percent of all lawsuits are settled prior to trial) 7. Facilitating planning (e.g., well-designed commercial laws allow businesses to plan their activities, allocate their resources, and assess their risks) 8. Maximizing individual freedom (e.g., the rights of freedom of speech, religion, and association granted by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution) What is Law? Definition A body of rules of action or conduct prescribed by controlling authority, and having binding legal force. That which must be obeyed and followed by citizens subject to sanctions or legal consequences is a law. Qualities of Good Law What qualities make for good law? Fairness Flexibility As time changes, our values and our thought of fairness changes...
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...is intended to enhance your understanding of an aspect of this course. You are to select one topic below and write an essay on the topic- note: unless approved by me in writing papers on other topics will not receive a passing grade. You are expected to research and make sense of the topics independently; I won’t be able to answer “am I on the right track?” types of questions, or to comment on any drafts before your final copy is due on, or before, midnight November 25, 2013. Despite the foregoing, I am available for consultation on your paper, please contact me if you need assistance. Make sure you address the various aspects of the topic necessary to answering the question. You must independently assess how much space to devote to each aspect, depending on the importance it appears to have in the context of the question as a whole. The body of the paper’s text is strictly limited to between 10 and 12 double spaced pages. It is to be written in 12 point font, and include a title page, page numbers, footnotes, bibliography and citations following the Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation (McGill Guide) format.Please note that overdue essays without valid excuse (e.g. death in the family, illness, injury) will be penalized 4% for each calendar beyond the deadline. Any paper more than seven (7) days late will automatically receive a failing grade. Essay Topic #1 On September 28, 2013 in a little noticed legislative manoeuvre, Independent MP, Mr.Serge Bourassa, has...
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...topic, check it out with me. Once you select a topic, and I would suggest that this be done promptly, stop by my office to discuss your research endeavor. Track A: Issue-centered paper. Those choosing this track will research and write a paper on a specific issue of constitutional law. The paper will focus on the Court’s treatment of an issue and competing perspectives on it (both on and off the Court), and provide an evaluation and critique of those perspectives. It will culminate in a defense of its own thesis. Possible topics include: • The history, functions, and uses of one of the various “technical barriers” • Scope and limits of the presidential power to pardon • Federalism as a value in the Warren and post-Warren Supreme Court • Federalism as a constitutional concept in the Rehnquist Court • How far did the Rehnquist Revolution in federalism go? • The constitutional status of the War Powers Act (1973) • The concept of Executive Privilege • Are there limits to the Court’s recent “takings clause” jurisprudence? • The impact of I.N.S. v. Chadha (1983) • An analysis of the contemporary understanding and constitutional significance of (a) the reversal of New Deal legislation by the Supreme Court, or (b) the Court Pack Scheme of F.D.R. • Congressional attempts to restrict the jurisdiction of the federal courts...
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...Mark Scheme (Results) Summer 2013 GCE Government and Politics 6GP02 Governing the UK Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications Edexcel and BTEC qualifications come from Pearson, the world’s leading learning company. We provide a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational, occupational and specific programmes for employers. For further information visit our qualifications websites at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk for our BTEC qualifications. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at www.edexcel.com/contactus. If you have any subject specific questions about this specification that require the help of a subject specialist, you can speak directly to the subject team at Pearson. Their contact details can be found on this link: www.edexcel.com/teachingservices. You can also use our online Ask the Expert service at www.edexcel.com/ask. You will need an Edexcel username and password to access this service. Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere Our aim is to help everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built an international reputation for our commitment to high standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we can help you and your...
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...Assess the arguments in favour of the greater use of direct democracy in the UK. (25 marks) Direct democracy is the purest form of democracy, it is an anarchic system. Direct democracy is commonly associated with the use of referendums. The more use of referendums in order to gain a greater use of direct democracy in the UK arguably leads to unpopular decisions by the government being prevented. The use of referendums can inform government policies meaning that the government are more sensitive to act within what the people vote for, e.g. the regional government vote in 2004, where the people of North-East England had rejected the regional government.This gave the government a mandate for action. However, it could also be argued that this would mean the tyranny of the majority in the UK for particular issues. The minority that loses is not taken into account by the government, leaving them defenceless, where in fact the minority are expected to be protected in a pure democratic society. The government would also not take the people who can not vote into account on the questions being proposed to the electorate, e.g. prisoners and people aged under 18. Although, the government now under David Cameron are discussing the decision to allow 16 and 17 year olds to gain a vote in the referendum (predicted to be held in 2017) concerning the issue of staying in the EU. It could be argued that referendums help confirm the government principles with legitimate...
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...overturn the social order, but it did produce substantial changes in social customs, political institutions, and ideas about society and government. Among the changes were the separation of church and state in some places, the abolition of slavery in the North, written political constitutions, and a shift in political power from the eastern seaboard toward the frontier. The first weak government, the Articles of Confederation, was unable to exercise real authority, although it did successfully deal with the western lands issue. The Confederation’s weakness in handling foreign policy, commerce and the Shays Rebellion spurred the movement to alter the Articles. Instead of revising the Articles, the well-off delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a charter for a whole new government. In a series of compromises, the convention produced a plan that provided for a vigorous central government, a strong executive, the protection for property, while still upholding republican principles and states’ rights. The Federalists met strong opposition from Anti-Federalists, especially in Virginia and New York, but through effective organization and argument, they succeeded in getting the Constitution ratified. By establishing the new national government, the Federalists checked the Revolutionary values of the popular republican government. Terms/names/topics:...
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...of this report is to assess Canadian attractiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment. It will adopt the Political Economy Analysis to discuss the benefits, risks and costs from Canadian political, economical and legal systems for FDI. It is stated that Canadian democratic systems prevent government from abusing power; market-oriented economic systems advocate innovation and property rights protection and its legal systems provide safeguards to property rights protection. Therefore, it believes that investing in Canada is a good choice. Since Canada is rich in natural resources and has rich human resources, it is recommended that Canada is appealing for firms which are doing business in the field of natural resources or high-technology. Table of Content Executive Summary 1 1. Introduction 4 2. Political Economy Analysis 5 2.1. Political System 5 2.2. Economical System 6 2.3. Legal System 8 3. Recommendation 9 4. Conclusion 9 References 10 Appendix 12 Table of Figures Figure 1 FDI Index 4 Figure 2 Protection Years 7 Figure 3 Net government debt as percent of GDP 8 1. Introduction Canada, with a population approximately 34 million people, is the second largest country in size after Russia (CIA, 2013). Canada is also one of the largest advanced economies in the world. In the respect to attracting FDI, it jumps 16 spots into 4th place (ATKearney, 2013). Figure 1 FDI Index Source: (ATKearney, 2013) The aim of this report is to assess Canadian attractiveness...
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...I.GENERAL PRINCIPLES ( THE POWER OF TAXATION ( Definitions: 1. Taxation: Power by which the sovereign raises revenue to defray the necessary expenses of the government from among those who in some measure are privileged to enjoy its benefits and must bear its burden. 2. Taxes: Enforced proportional contribution from properties and persons levied by the State by virtue of its sovereignty for the support of government and for public needs. ( Characteristics of Taxes: 1. forced charge; 2. generally payable in money; 3. levied by the legislature; 4. assessed with some reasonable rule of apportionment; 5. imposed by the State within its jurisdiction; 6. levied for public purpose. ( Theories or bases of taxation: 1. Lifeblood Theory Taxes are the lifeblood of the nation. Without revenue raised from taxation, the government will not survive, resulting in detriment to society. Without taxes, the government would be paralyzed for lack of motive power to activate and operate it. (CIR vs Algue, Inc., et. al.) Illustrations of Lifeblood Theory: a. Collection of taxes may not be enjoined by injunction. b. Taxes could not be the subject of compensation and set-off. c. A valid tax may result in destruction of the taxpayer's property. 2. Necessity Theory Existence of a government is a necessity and cannot continue without any means to pay for expenses. a. Marshall Dictum “ Power to tax is the power to destroy” – describes the unlimitedness of the power...
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