Governing by Numbers
Delegated Legislation and Everyday Policy-Making
Published on 16. March 2001
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-84113-207-5 (ISBN)
Description
Governing by Numbers is a jargon-free account of how delegated legislation - laws that do not pass through the full legislative scrutiny to which Acts of Parliament are subjected - is made. It is based on new research involving an analysis of nearly 30,000 pieces of delegated legislation; detailed investigation of 46 recent regulations based on in-depth interviews with those involved in developing, writing and scrutinising them and a major survey of nearly 400 interest groups. Delegated legislation is examined as a form of "everyday policy-making". It deals with important issues, from the level of welfare benefits to weapons exports, animal health and the prevention of air pollution, yet has been largely ignored in studies of the British political and administrative system. This book analyses the distinctive character of everyday policy making and the implications of how it works for our understanding of British democracy.
Reviews / Votes
Governing by numbers is an interesting and significant examination of policy-making and law-making at the operating level. well-executed study at the conclusion of the book, the reader feels that he has a firm grasp of what was heretofore an unknown and obscure arena of policy-making. The quality of the writing is also very good. The book is well organized and integrated. Overall, this book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of an important venue of policy-making. The field can benefit from systematic work like this, focused on the adoption of regulations that constitute the bulk of law that really impacts most people. Charles Wise, Indiana University Governance March 2001More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
555 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84113-207-5 (9781841132075)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2001
1st Edition
Hart Publishing
€94.49
Available for download
Previous edition
Reza Banakar | Max Travers
An Introduction to Law and Social Theory
Delegated Legislation and Everyday Policy-Making
Book
08/2002
Hart Publishing
€75.71
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Edward C Page is Sidney and Beatrice Webb Professor of Public Policy at the LSE and a Fellow of the British Academy.
Content
Part 1 Politics in seclusion: but is it politics?; it's politics, but not as we know it; the character of secluded politics; moving out of seclusion; illuminating the obscurity. Part 2 Examining the instrument: what are statutory instruments?; not new, but increasingly important; how SIs are made - the formalities; court and delegated legislation; conclusions. Part 3 The stuff of everyday politics: reading the labels; subjects covered and ministries concerned; political action and SIs; high politics, low politics and SIs; how much of political importance is involved and delegated legislation?. Part 4 The origins of regulations: different types of SI; where do the initiatives come from?; conclusions. Part 5 Ministers on top: what gets referred to ministers and when; delegated legislation - the domain of the junior minister; the nature of ministerial involvement; the muffled impact of parties; conclusions. Part 6 Drafting SIs - the joint effort of administrators and lawyers: administrators' roles; lawyers' roles; conclusions. Part 7 Consulting outside interests: contrasting consultative processes; is consultation inclusive?; responding to consultations; conclusions. Part 8 The discreet impact of parliamentary scrutiny: the joint committee on statutory instruments; scrutiny of policy; assessing the impact of parliament; conclusions. Part 9 Everyday politics and high politics: understanding everyday government; forms of bias; the relationship between everyday and high politics; governing in a nether world; appendices.