Conventions are fundamental to the constitutional systems of parliamentary democracies. Unlike the United States which adopted a republican form of government, with a full separation of powers, codified constitutional structures and limitations for executive and legislative institutions and actors, Britain and subsequently Canada, Australia and New Zealand have relied on conventions to perform similar functions. The rise of new political actors has disrupted the stability of the two-party system, and in seeking power the new players are challenging existing practices. Conventions that govern constitutional arrangements in Britain and New Zealand, and the executive in Canada and Australia, are changing to accommodate these and other challenges of modern governance. In Westminster democracies, constitutional conventions provide the rules for forming government; they precede law and make law-making possible. This prior and more fundamental realm of government formation and law making is s
Is globalisation new? Are its effects inevitable? Are the concepts of national sovereignty and global markets incompatible? In this provocative book, the authors argue that Australia has always been a 'globalised' nation. In terms of its economy, political sovereignty and sense of national identity, the country and its citizens have had to create for themselves a complex position between dependence and irrelevance. Australians and Globalisation tells the tale of how governance and citizenship developed in response to global forces, starting with colonial societies and moving through the federation period and the twentieth century to the present day with its accelerated globalisation impact.
This provocative book, first published in 1995, argues that Australia is already a federal republic rather than a constitutional monarchy. It argues that by adopting a federal constitution in 1901 Australians ensured their status as a sovereign people. While the book does not deny the parliamentary and monarchic elements of the Australian system, it calls for a positive reassessment of the Constitution. Brian Galligan forcefully argues that the Australian Constitution has primacy over the other political institutions of the nation. The book considers fundamental issues that arise in discussion of the Constitution and federalism, including the role of the Senate, the possibility of a bill of rights, the way the High Court fits into the current system and the nature of governmental relations. This book will overturn the orthodoxies of much informed opinion and will challenge republicans and monarchists alike. Brian Galligan's unique perspective as a political scientist throws light on
Is globalisation new? Are its effects inevitable? Are the concepts of national sovereignty and global markets incompatible? In this provocative book, the authors argue that Australia has always been a 'globalised' nation. In terms of its economy, political sovereignty and sense of national identity, the country and its citizens have had to create for themselves a complex position between dependence and irrelevance. Australians and Globalisation tells the tale of how governance and citizenship developed in response to global forces, starting with colonial societies and moving through the federation period and the twentieth century to the present day with its accelerated globalisation impact.
The year 2013 is the 40th anniversary of the end of the 'White Australia policy'. In these four decades Australia's immigration policy has shifted from a primary concern with cultural homogeneity or B
Unlike that of the United States of America, Australia’s constitution provides no definition of the rights of its citizens. Here is the first publication of key documents that clearly define the right
This edited volume is a comprehensive examination of the legal framework in which environmental policy is fashioned in the major English-speaking federations--the United States, Canada, and Australia
