The separation of powers in the contemporary constitution : judicial competence and independence in the United Kingdom

This book examines the dividing lines between the powers of the judicial branch of government and those of the executive and legislative branches in the light of two of the most significant constitutional reforms of recent years: the Human Rights Act 1998 and Constitutional Reform Act 2005. Both statutes have implications for the separation of powers within the United Kingdom constitution. The Human Rights Act brings the judges into much closer proximity with the decisions of political actors than previously permitted by the Wednesbury standard of review and the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty. While, arguably by contrast, the Constitutional Reform Act marks the emergence of an institutionally independent judicial branch. Taken together, the two legislative schemes form the backbone of a more comprehensive system of constitutional checks and balances policed by a judicial branch underpinned by the legitimacy of institutional independence. For law and politics readers on constitutional reform globally. Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 2 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Table of cases......Page 13 Introduction......Page 22 PART I - Separation of powers, the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights......Page 28 The meaning(s) and aim(s) of separation of powers......Page 30 Separation of powers in the United Kingdom constitution......Page 37 The supremacy of Parliament......Page 41 The centrality of judicial independence......Page 47 The contemporary separation of powers......Page 52 Introduction......Page 54 Rights as questions of law and/or politics......Page 55 The parliamentary bill of rights model......Page 63 The Human Rights Act in the United Kingdom constitution......Page 65 The separation of powers implications of the dialogic model......Page 77 Introduction......Page 81 The standard of review and requirement of proportionate interference......Page 84 The Strasbourg jurisprudence on separated governmental functions......Page 91 The Strasbourg jurisprudence on separated institutions......Page 99 Conclusion......Page 105 PART II - Judicial engagement with the `political' branches......Page 108 The extended range of review......Page 110 The justiciability of the Convention rights......Page 111 Public resources......Page 114 National security......Page 117 The withering of non-justiciability doctrines......Page 124 Towards legislative review?......Page 126 Conclusion......Page 134 Introduction......Page 136 Deference......Page 137 Proportionality and the intensity of review......Page 150 Conclusion......Page 162 PART III - The creative powers of courts......Page 164 Introduction......Page 166 The judge as law-maker......Page 167 Interpretative latitude under the Human Rights Act......Page 172 Interpretative law-making on the Human Rights Act model......Page 175 Deference to the legislature and the limitations of judicial interpretation......Page 184 Democratic dialogue in practice: parliamentary and executive responses to incompatibility......Page 189 Conclusion......Page 197 The incremental nature of common law development......Page 202 The Human Rights Act and law-making at common law......Page 204 The meaning and application of `the Convention rights'......Page 212 Conclusion......Page 223 PART IV - The separation of the judicial branch......Page 226 Introduction......Page 228 The institutional independence of the judiciary......Page 229 Structural independence secured? The Constitutional Reform Act 2005......Page 240 Independence, legitimacy and the separation of functions......Page 248 Towards a constitutionally separate judicial branch?......Page 263 Descriptive or substantive principles of separation?......Page 266 Select bibliography......Page 275 Index......Page 288 In this 2010 book, Roger Masterman examines the dividing lines between the powers of the judicial branch of government and those of the executive and legislative branches in the light of two of the most significant constitutional reforms of recent years: the Human Rights Act (1998) and Constitutional Reform Act (2005). Both statutes have implications for the separation of powers within the United Kingdom constitution. The Human Rights Act brings the judges into much closer proximity with the decisions of political actors than previously permitted by the Wednesbury standard of review and the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty, while the Constitutional Reform Act marks the emergence of an institutionally independent judicial branch. Taken together, the two legislative schemes form the backbone of a more comprehensive system of constitutional checks and balances policed by a judicial branch underpinned by the legitimacy of institutional independence. A Doctrine Of Uncertain Scope And Application -- The Human Rights Act 1998 And The Separation Of Powers -- The Strasbourg Influence -- Justiciability -- Deference And Proportionality -- Statutory Interpretation And Declarations Of Incompatibility -- Developing The Common Law And The Meaning Of 'the Convention Rights' -- The Independence Of The Judiciary -- Towards Constitutional Separation. Roger Masterman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 254-266) And Index. A doctrine of uncertain scope and application The Human Rights Act 1998 and the separation of powers The Strasbourg influence Justiciability Deference and proportionality Statutory interpretation and declarations of incompatibility Developing the common law and the meaning of 'the convention rights' The independence of the judiciary Towards constitutional separation Descriptive or substantive principles of separation? Judicial Competence and Independence in the United Kingdom. The Separation of Powers in the Contemporary Constitution examines the implications of two noted constitutional reforms the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. It will appeal to lawyers and political scientists interested in the interplay between constitutional principle and legal doctrine in the contemporary constitution.