Democracy, in all its flaws, passions and intricacies, is the foundation of our system of government. The law on it shapes our very experience of electoral democracy. The very question of ‘who’ sets that law is contentious. Should it be set by courts via a constitution, or the work of partisan but accountable legislators?
The Law of Politics is a definitive account of this law. It chronicles and critiques the rules, cases and institutions at play. From the right to vote, to the framework for free and fair elections and referendums, and from the governance of political parties to restraints on money in politics. The law is canvassed in light of the aspirations of political liberty, equality, integrity and deliberation, as well as the realities of practical politics.
Fully revised, this second edition encompasses major developments in MP qualifications, voting systems, campaigning and political finance. It also includes a new chapter on local government.