The ease with which Theresa May was able to secure an early dissolution last week has led to suggestions that the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 serves no useful purpose and should be scrapped. In a blog posted originally on the Constitution Unit blog, and drawing on wider evidence of how fixed-term parliaments legislations works in other countries, Robert Hazell, Professor of Government and the Constitution at the Constitution Unit, argues that there is a danger that it is being judged prematurely, on the basis of a single episode. Future circumstances in which a Prime Minister seeks a dissolution may be different, and in these cases the Fixed-term Parliaments Act may serve as more of a constraint.
Category: Blog
Marc Geddes discusses the reports of conflicts within the House of Commons Brexit Select Committee and how different committee members may interpret their roles.
James Weinberg discusses how his research blends political science, psychology and a healthy dose of humanity to understand the personal side of politics.
In this article, Matthew Purvis, Head of Research Services in the House of Lords Library, provides an introduction to the role of the House of Lords Library, what services it offers and how it works.
Sam Power discusses how he uses a simulation of a Congressional Standing Committee to explain legislative complexity to students.
Dr Meheret Ayenew and Tsedey Mekonnen discuss the rapid increase in the proportion of female MPs in Ethiopia in a blog to mark International Women’s Day
Relationships and networks have a big impact on parliamentary engagement. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for those academics looking to work with Parliament as part of disseminating their research. Marc Geddes, Katharine Dommett and Brenton Prosser outline why academics must be able to ‘rub shoulders’ with parliamentary staff, building shared understandings and personal trust which can circumvent common barriers around accessibility of research.
By Dr Catherine Bochel, Reader in Policy Studies, University of Lincoln
In a post-Brexit world, the way Parliament works and engages with the public is more important than ever.
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Promoting Gender Equality in Parliaments
By Jacqui Smith and Kristen Sample
Women account for half of the global population, yet represent less than a quarter of the world’s parliamentarians. The causes behind this imbalance are myriad and multi-faceted, based on culturally rooted gender norms, political institutions, and economic disparities. In other words, a woman who is elected to parliament has beaten the odds.