Constitutional conventions in Australia : an introduction to the unwritten rules of Australia's constitutions / Ian Killey PSM LLM.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Killey, Ian, author.

Contributor:

Phi Beta Kappa Library Trust Fund.

Series:

Anthem-ASP Australasia Publishing Programme.

The Anthem-ASP Australasia Publishing Programme

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Constitutional conventions--Australia.

Constitutional conventions.

Constitutional law--Australia.

Constitutional law.

Australia.

Constitutional history--Australia.

Constitutional history.

Australia--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xi, 377 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

London : Anthem Press, 2014.

Summary:

Australia's Constitutions Tell only Part of the Story. Australia's constitutions tell only part of the story. They omit or barely mention many of the essential and well-known elements of the system of government, such as the cabinet, the prime minister or premier, ministerial responsibility or the opposition. The difference between what exists on paper and what occurs in practice arises from binding yet unwritten constitutional rules or 'constitutional conventions'. This is a subject that has given rise to much misunderstanding but on which little has been written in Australia, despite the critical role of conventions in systems of government. Scant attention has been given to limits upon the exercise of the broad and extensive powers that constitutions provide to governors and governors-general. Likewise, virtually nothing has been said as to how premiers and prime ministers are appointed or dismissed, or what advice a governor or governor-general is compelled to accept. This work fills that void by explaining the nature of conventions, how they arise, how they are altered, as well as their operation and development. It will be of use to lawyers, academics, public officials, journalists and anyone who has an interest in understanding the complexities and mysteries of the unwritten rules of the Australian national or state systems of government. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Conventions-Mr Disraeli's Problem and the Procreation of Eels 1

2 Conventions - What Are They? 7

3 Conventions - The Institutions 47

4 Ministerial Responsibility - Collective Responsibility 61

5 Ministerial Responsibility - Individual Responsibility 87

6 Public Servants and Ministerial Advisers 114

7 Reserve Powers 129

8 The Governor and the First Minister - Royal Assent and the Three Rights 189

9 Hung Parliament 210

10 Caretaker Conventions 235

11 Upper House Conventions 262

12 Update: 2010-2011 276.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Phi Beta Kappa Library Trust Fund.

ISBN:

9781783081226

1783081228

OCLC:

864789994

Publisher Number:

99957871005