Reconstituting the Constitution

✍ Scribed by Elizabeth McLeay (auth.), Caroline Morris, Jonathan Boston, Petra Butler (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 532
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

All nation states, whether ancient or newly created, must examine their constitutional fundamentals to keep their constitutions relevant and dynamic. Constitutional change has greater legitimacy when the questions are debated before the people and accepted by them.

Who are the peoples in this state? What role should they have in relation to the government? What rights should they have? Who should be Head of State? What is our constitutional relationship with other nation states? What is the influence of international law on our domestic system? What process should constitutional change follow?

In this volume, scholars, practitioners, politicians, public officials, and young people explore these questions and others in relation to the New Zealand constitution and provide some thought-provoking answers. This book is recommended for anyone seeking insight into how a former British colony with bicultural foundations is making the transition to a multicultural society in an increasingly complex and globalised world.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Building the Constitution : Debates; Assumptions; Developments 2000–2010....Pages 3-33
Reconstituting the Constitution: Opening Address I....Pages 35-39
Reconstituting the Constitution: Opening Address II....Pages 41-47
Front Matter....Pages 49-49
South Africa’s Experience in Constitution-Building....Pages 51-82
Constitutional Reform in the United Kingdom: Past, Present and Future....Pages 83-96
Front Matter....Pages 97-98
A Republic for New Zealand? A Modest Approach....Pages 99-105
Patriating Our Head of State: A Simpler Path?....Pages 107-120
Front Matter....Pages 121-122
The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Supreme Constitution for New Zealand: The Problem with Pragmatic Constitutional Evolution....Pages 123-155
Protecting Rights....Pages 157-184
The Status and Nature of the Treaty of Waitangi....Pages 185-190
Front Matter....Pages 191-193
The Future of Electoral Law....Pages 195-198
A Better Democracy, Thanks to MMP....Pages 199-217
The Future of Electoral Law....Pages 219-242
Misbehaving Members of Parliament and How to Deal with Them....Pages 243-264
Front Matter....Pages 265-265
Involving Civil Society in Constitutional Reform: An Overview of the Australian National Human Rights Consultation and the Proposed National Human Rights Framework....Pages 267-287
Front Matter....Pages 289-290
Global Treaties and the New Zealand Constitution....Pages 291-318
The Influence of International Law in New Zealand: Some Reflections....Pages 319-335
International Economic Law and the New Zealand Constitution: Towards an End to Executive Dominance?....Pages 337-364
Front Matter....Pages 365-365
Waltzing Matilda (or Not): New Zealand’s Constitutional Relationship With Australia....Pages 367-373
The Evolution of the Australia–New Zealand Relationship....Pages 375-386
Front Matter....Pages 365-365
The Trans-Tasman Relationship: Past, Present and Future....Pages 387-395
Front Matter....Pages 397-398
The Role and Governance of Sub-National Government: Impact of the “Super-City”....Pages 399-403
Local Government: The Search for Constitutional Certainty....Pages 405-414
The Role and Governance of Sub-National Government: Current Issues....Pages 415-422
Front Matter....Pages 423-424
Keeping It Clean and Green: The Case for Constitutional Environmental Protection Rights....Pages 425-458
A Youth Perspective on Changing the Constitution....Pages 459-464
Protecting Future Generations....Pages 465-483
Creating a Constitutional People....Pages 485-501
Back Matter....Pages 503-519

✦ Subjects

Private International Law, International & Foreign Law, Comparative Law; Constitutional Law; Political Science, general