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PL2 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS (detailed) (EXAMPLES (Financial bills…
PL2
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTIONS (detailed)
DEFINITIONS
'Flesh that clothes the dry bones of the law' (Jennings)
'...rules or practices...accepted as binding...by those to whom they apply...not set out in any statute...acknowledged, but not enforced, by the courts' (AG v Jonathan Cape)
'Rules of constitutional behaviour....considered to be binding by and upon those who operate the constitution but which are not enforced by the law courts' (Marshall and Moodie)
KEY FEATURES
Morally
binding
but not legally
enforceable
:smiley: enhances their flexibility
:unamused: purely political consequences if break down/breach
Recognised
by the courts
The only completely
unwritten source
s of the UK constitution: therefore
flexible
, and can 'fill holes' in the UK constitution and make it work; keep it in touch with the growth of ideas.
Marshall suggests they relate to relationships between the 'actors' in the constitution - eg relationships between: cabinet and Prime Minister; Gov't and Parliament; HoC and HoL, ministers and civil servants; ministers and 'machinery of justice'; UK and member countries of the commonwealth
Play a key role in maintaining a
constitutional balance
between Crown and Houses of Parliament
EXAMPLES
Financial bills introduced in HoC by a cabinet minister
'Sewell' convention - UK P'ment will not normally pass laws on devolved matters without the devolved legislature's agreement
Govt ministers must be parliamentarians
Monarch always gives royal assent for bill to become Act of Parliament
PM and Chancellor of Exchequer should be member of HoC (therefore directly accountable to the elected chamber for his/her govt). No similar convention re other cabinet ministers but
HoL defers to HoC
Monarch appoints as PM the person enjoying the confidence of the majority of MPs in the HoC
Executive does not criticise judicial decisions
More recently - vote taken in HoC before going to war (2003 - Blair - Iraq; 2013 - Cameron - Syria)
Ministerial responsibility - individual ministerial responsibility and collective cabinet responsibility (see below)
Judiciary does not engage in party politics
MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CMR - COLLECTIVE MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Unanimity
-
Once issue discussed by cabinet and joint view taken, ministers should maintain a united front
Confidentiality
- ministerial discussion in cabinet should be kept confidential
Except:
papers in public domain
papers dealing with matters known to foreign govts
written opinions of law officers
Confidence
-
aim is to ensure that confidence is maintained in the govt (govt need not resign over every defeat - only where it loses a specific 'no confidence' motion)
http://theconversation.com/theresa-may-was-right-to-reimpose-collective-ministerial-responsibility-its-the-only-way-to-govern-99608
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2019/05/20/brexit-and-collective-responsibility-why-the-convention-is-still-working/
CMR suspended:
1975 - EU referendum; 2011 - electoral reform referendum
2016 - EU referendum
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/12082083/EU-referendum-David-Cameron-gives-ministers-free-vote.html
If minister cannot agree with collective view of cabinet, s/he should either keep quiet or resign
eg Robin Cook, Clare Short, John Denham - Iraq war
IMR - INDIVIDUAL MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY
(public and private accountability) :
For own personal conduct
eg - expenses - David Chaytor (2010); error of judgement - Liam Fox (2011); perverting course of justice - Chris Huhne (2012); sexual assault (acquitted) - Nigel Evans (2013); extra-marital affairs (less likely nowadays to resign in these circs.; serious sexual misconduct - Michael Fallon (2017)
Sex! Money! Sleaze! Lies! Errors in judgement/personal morality!
Competence in office
Policy failure? Will probably lead to resignation. Eg: Crichel Down (1954)
Operational failure? If failure due to actions not sanctioned by minister, probably no resignation. Eg: Theresa May & UK Border Agency (2011)
OTHER ISSUES
Codification? The Cabinet Manual 2010-2011. Guidance only - no legal status
Judicial recognition? Eg AG v Jonathan Cape [1976]
How do we know a convention exists and/or establish its existence?
Professor Jennings 'test': a single precedent with a good reason may be enough to establish the rule. Lots of precedents - if no good reason may not be enough.
What are the precedents?
Did the actors in the precedents believe that they were bound by a rule?
Is there a (good) reason for this?
The Ministerial Code - new convention? Ministers are under a duty to follow the rules.
Can a convention be enforced? Moral expectation, not a legally enforceable obligation.