{"product_id":"the-constitutional-balance-9781509974337","title":"The Constitutional Balance","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eConstitutional Balance\u003c\/i\u003e Sir John Laws has left a vivid and timely commentary on one of the most pressing issues in the legal world today.   The debate continues whether or not judges venture too far into issues of Government policy, and whether or not there are any limits on the power of the executive and the legislature to propose and enact legislation that unduly restricts fundamental freedoms in a democratic society subject to the rule of law.  Sir John Laws examines the relationship between constitutional fundamentals and values.  He finds basic ideals of reason, fairness and the presumption of liberty in the common law, and recognises that a democratically accountable executive and legislature must be able to make policy and enact and implement legislation to pursue social goals. The courts then interpret the laws.  As Sir John puts it – “The meeting of Parliament and the common law, in the crucible of statutory interpretation, is close to the core of [the constitutional balance]”.  These fundamental values can compete with each other, giving rise to tensions within and between key state institutions, in particular the executive and the judiciary.   A 'constitutional balance' between them must be found if the constitution is to function properly, each institution is to understand the proper extent and limits of its authority, and the rule of law is to be maintained.  Sir John draws on his life-long experience as a barrister, judge and academic, and on case-law and learning, to explain in vibrant and engaging terms how such a 'constitutional balance' might be achieved.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Constitutional Balance\u003c\/i\u003e is an excellent book. It represents the culmination of a lifetime of deep thinking about the nature of UK constitutional law. Anyone remotely interested in constitutional theory should read this book … this book warrants careful reading by anyone working in constitutional theory and will be an invaluable resource for students … Laws has managed to provide a thoroughly accessible book that is nevertheless nuanced and insightful. A fitting final publication for a man whose writing has always struck that balance so well. -- Michael Foran, University of Strathclyde * Edinburgh Law Review *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntroduction \u003c\/b\u003e I. The Vice of Ideology  II. Three Aspects of the Human Condition  III. Three Constitutional Fundamentals: The Constitutional Balance  IV. The Scheme of the Book  V. Reflections \u003cb\u003e1. The Rule of Law \u003c\/b\u003e I. Two Meanings of the Rule of Law  II. The Rule of Law – Where Next? III. Independent and Impartial Adjudication  IV. Beyond the Th in Theory  V. \u003ci\u003eUnison v Lord Chancellor \u003c\/i\u003e VI. Two Basics: Normative Statutory Interpretation and the Individual’s Autonomy  VII. Possible Objections  VIII. Examples  IX. Conclusions  \u003cb\u003e2. Democracy \u003c\/b\u003e I. The Virtue of Democracy (1): Failed Candidates  II. The Virtue of Democracy (2): Its True Virtue  III. Referendums  IV. Conclusion – Restraint  \u003cb\u003e3. Two Moralities\u003c\/b\u003e I. The Nature of the Two Moralities  A. The Natural Provinces of Courts and Government  B. The Two Philosophies are Apt to their Respective Spheres  C. The Methods of Courts and Government are Suited to their Respective Moralities  D. The Two Moralities and the Constitutional Balance  II. Trespass  A. Criminal Law  B. Trespass by Government  C. Trespass by Courts  III. Justice  IV. Postscript  \u003cb\u003e4. The Common Law \u003c\/b\u003e I. Constitutions  II. Statute Law  III. The Common Law and Statutory Interpretation  IV. The Constitutional Balance  V. The Methods of the Common Law  A. Precedent  B. Experiment  C. History  D. Distillation  E. Conclusions  \u003cb\u003e5. Reason, Fairness and the Presumption of Liberty \u003c\/b\u003e I. Reason – \u003ci\u003eWednesbury \u003c\/i\u003eand Proportionality  A. \u003ci\u003eWednesbury \u003c\/i\u003e i. A Variable Standard of Review  B. Proportionality  II. Fairness – \u003ci\u003eRidge v Baldwin\u003c\/i\u003e; Legitimate Expectation  A. \u003ci\u003eRidge v Baldwin \u003c\/i\u003e B. Legitimate Expectation C. Overriding Public Interest  III. The Presumption of Liberty  A. Two Propositions  B. The Presumption of Liberty and the Rule of Law  C. The Principle of Minimal Interference  IV. Postscript – Forerunners of Judicial Review  \u003cb\u003e6. Finding the Edge: Judicial Deference \u003c\/b\u003e I. Introductory Cases  II. Lord Hoffmann in the \u003ci\u003eProLife \u003c\/i\u003eCase  III. Why Should the Courts Defer to Democratic Power?  \u003cb\u003e7. Two Mistakes: Parliamentary Intent and the \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUltra Vires \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoctrine \u003c\/b\u003e I. The Intention of Parliament  A. The Type-Token Distinction  B. Can Parliamentary Intention be Saved? (1)  C. Can Parliamentary Intention be Saved? (2)  i. \u003ci\u003ePepper v Hart \u003c\/i\u003e ii. Interpreting Contracts and Statutes  D. Intent and Purpose  E. An Irony  F. The Constitutional Principles  II. The \u003ci\u003eUltra Vires \u003c\/i\u003eDoctrine  A. The Nature of the \u003ci\u003eUltra Vires \u003c\/i\u003eDoctrine  B. Objections to the \u003ci\u003eUltra Vires \u003c\/i\u003eDoctrine  C. Modified \u003ci\u003eUltra Vires \u003c\/i\u003e D. Shortcomings of the Modified Theory  \u003cb\u003e8. The Sovereignty of Parliament \u003c\/b\u003e I. Constitutional Statutes and Implied Repeal  II. The Nature of Parliamentary Sovereignty  III. Assaults on the Constitutional Balance  IV. \u003ci\u003eAuctoritas \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eImperium \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003e9. Human Rights, Free Thought and Expression \u003c\/b\u003e I. Human Rights  A. Problems for the Constitutional Balance: The ECHR and the Strasbourg Jurisprudence  B. The Human Rights Act  C. Consequences  D. The \u003ci\u003eUllah \u003c\/i\u003eCase  E. \u003ci\u003eUllah \u003c\/i\u003ein Retreat  II. Free Thought and Expression  A. Free Expression under Attack  B. Offensive Speech  C. Religion  i. The \u003ci\u003eMcFarlane \u003c\/i\u003eCase","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51742593515863,"sku":"9781509974337","price":999.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781509974337.jpg?v=1758385463","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-constitutional-balance-9781509974337","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}