The Least Examined Branch: The Role of Legislatures in the Constitutional State

Description

Unlike most works in constitutional theory, which focus on the role of the courts, this book addresses the role of legislatures in a regime of constitutional democracy. Bringing together some of the world's leading constitutional scholars and political scientists, the book addresses legislatures in democratic theory, legislating and deliberating in the constitutional state, constitution-making by legislatures, legislative and popular constitutionalism, and the dialogic role of legislatures, both domestically with other institutions and internationally with other legislatures. The book offers theoretical perspectives as well as case studies of several types of legislation from the United States and Canada. It also addresses the role of legislatures both under the Westminster model and under a separation of powers system.

Richard W. Bauman is Professor of Law at the University of Alberta where he is also Chair of the Management Board of the Centre for Constitutional Studies. He was educated at the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University, and Oxford University. His most recent book is Ideology and Community in the First Wave of Critical Legal Studies. He has published in law journals in Canada, the U.S., and South Africa. Tsvi Kahana is an assistant Professor of Law at Queen's University, Ontario, Canada. He has taught courses at the University of Alberta, the University of Toronto, and Tel-Aviv University. His work has been published at The University of Toronto Law Journal, The Journal of Canadian Public Administration, Queen's Law Journal, and The Supreme Court Law Review.

"...This collection helpfully contains pieces from authors who dissent from the chorus of approval of legislative constitutionalism....the book captures an important element in the evolution of the scholarship on constitutionalism. I recommend this book for law and social science libraries, and to advanced students of constitutions in law schools and political science departments." --Thomas M.J. Bateman, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, The Law and Politics Book Review