Our Republican Constitution

by Adam Tomkins

This new book by Adam Tomkins sets out a radical vision of the British constitution. It argues that despite its outwardly monarchic form the constitution is profoundly informed, and indeed shaped, by values and practices of republicanism. The republican reading of the constitution presented in this book places political accountability at the core of the constitutional order. As such, Our Republican Constitution offers a powerful rejoinder to the current trend in legal scholarship that sees the common law and the courts, rather than Parliament, as the central players in holding government to account. The book further contends that while the constitution should be understood as having republican foundations, current constitutional practice is, in a number of respects, insufficiently republican in character. The book closes by outlining a programme of republican constitutional reform that is designed to secure genuinely responsible government.

This is an original and provocative reinterpretation of the central themes of the British constitution, drawing on constitutional history (especially of the seventeenth century), political theory and public law.

Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly argued essay on why we should cherish our Republican roots. For students of Public Law, this will help you sort out your political constitutions from your legal; it'll develop your fluency with the vocabulary of Constitutional Law and it will give you are rare opportunity to find yourself in large agreement with a tory.

A clear ride through the history and the politics and the law of this fascinating area. A rare example of clarity and complexity in harmony.

Yes, I enjoyed it!

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that details the incremental change in the interpretation of "We the people" in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution from defining sovereign Individuals with inalienable rights and Govt as the agent to protect those rights to a concept of "the will of the people" being sovereign and able to override individual rights. This is detailed through discussion of key Supreme Court case rulings and the reasoning used for them. A difficult read due to the constant referral to cases but well worth the effort.