Constitutional change in the Commonwealth : the Commonwealth lectures delivered at the University of Cambridge on 8, 15, and 22 November 1988

This book is concerned with changes and proposed changes to the governmental structures of the four oldest members of the Commonwealth--Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It is divided into three sections. The first contrasts the efforts of the three "older dominions" to free themselves legally from their constitutional ties with the United Kingdom, not achieved until the 1980s. The second section examines attempts and proposals to curb the power of the parliaments to impair individual and democratic rights. Only Canada has achieved something similar to the United States' Bill of Rights, but there are some social pressures in the same direction in the other three countries. The final section compares the judicial interpretation of the federal constitutions of Canada and Australia. This in turn is compared with the position of Britain in the EEC. As a result of political forces and judicial interpretation, the power of the British Parliament is steadily waning in favor of increased Community power, in a manner akin to that occurring in relation to the distribution of central and regional power in Canada and Australia. This book is a contribution to comparative constitutional law and deals with important changes in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the original members of the present Commonwealth of Nations. It is based on lectures delivered at the University of Cambridge. The first lecture discusses the development in recent years of the constitutional autonomy of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and its effect on the constitutions of those countries and on the concept of the 'crown'. The second lecture is concerned with methods to entrench, constitutionally, individual and democratic rights. The final lecture contrasts judicial attitudes to the interpretation of the constitutions of Canada and Australia. The conclusion is reached that although the EEC is not a federation, there is a structural similarity between the distribution of governmental power within the Community and its members, and the federal issues that arise in Canada, Australia and other federations. This chapter is concerned with steps taken by Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, successfully completed only in the last few years, to end their constitutional ties with the United Kingdom Parliament and Government, to examine the present legal foundations of the Constitutions of those countries, and to see what has happened to the notion of 'the Crown'. This book is concerned with changes and proposed changes to the governmental structures of the four oldest members of the Commonwealth - Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

this Book Is Concerned With Changes And Proposed Changes To The Governmental Structures Of The Four Oldest Members Of The Commonwealth.

"The Commonwealth lectures delivered at the University of Cambridge on 8, 15, and 22 November 1988." Leslie Zines. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.