Research Briefing
Political Developments in Northern Ireland since January 2005
This note offers brief details of developments in Northern Ireland since January 2005.
-
-
Research Briefing
Drafting Legislation and the Parliamentary Counsel Office
The Parliamentary Counsel is a team of lawyers which drafts government bills before they are introduced into Parliament and works on other legal aspects of parliamentary business. This note describes the work of the Parliamentary Counsel Office, and its structure. It also briefly considers the implications of the growing use of pre-legislative scrutiny on the work of the Office.
-
-
Research Briefing
The New Code of Conduct for Members
The Standards and Privileges Committee have issued a new version of the Code of Conduct for Members and Guide to the Rules, following a review undertaken by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Sir Philip Mawer. This Note looks at previous Codes of Conduct and at the revisions.
-
-
Research Briefing
Pepper v Hart
Following the decision in Pepper v Hart in 1993, if primary legislation is ambiguous or obscure the courts may in certain circumstances take account of statements made in Parliament by Ministers or other promoters of a Bill in construing that legislation. Until that decision, using Hansard in that way would have been regarded as a breach of Parliamentary privilege.
-
Research Briefing
Modernisation of the House of Commons 1997 – 2005
Modernisation of the House of Commons 1997-2005. House of Commons Research paper 05/46.
-
-
Research Briefing
Modernisation: Sitting Hours
Following a number of experimental changes to the House of Commons' sitting hours, on 11 January 2005 the Modernisation Committee published a report which reviewed the experiments and outlined its recommendations for sitting hours. This Note looks at these recommendations and the Houses response to them.
-
Research Briefing
By-election results 2001-05
By-election results 2001-05. House of Commons Library Research Paper 05/34
-
Research Briefing
All-postal voting
This note considers all-postal ballots which have been used at a number of elections in recent years; postal voting on demand is not discussed. This note examines the powers available to local authorities to conduct all-postal ballots and recent developments which have seen pilot all-postal ballots in four regions at the European Parliamentary elections in June 2004 and in the referendum in the North East for a regional assembly.
-
-
Research Briefing
Electoral register
This note looks at the present registration process, its security and proposals for change to the system.
-
-
Research Briefing
Electoral Registration (Northern Ireland) Bill (HL) (Bill 64 of 2004/05)
The Electoral Registration (Northern Ireland) Bill (HL). (Bill 64 of 2004/05). House of Commons Library Research Paper 05/15.
Total results (page 154 of 162)