The Conservative Party went into the 2015 General Election with a manifesto commitment to “scrap the Human Rights Act and curtail the role of the European Court of Human Rights.” This note provides a brief introduction to the Human Rights Act 1998; the European Convention on Human Rights and the work of the European Court of Human Rights.
Judicial review is a type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body.
The Commons Library's briefing note on the Scotland Bill 2015-16.
Research Briefing
History and development of the office of Lord Chancellor. This note summarises the history and development of the office of Lord Chancellor and also examines the changes that were made to the role following the enactment of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.
Research Briefing
The Osmotherly Rules (the Rules) give guidance on the role of civil servants and other Government officials appearing before select committees. The purpose of the Rules is to assist staff in Government departments dealing with requests for information from select committees, including: the provision of evidence, handling select committee reports and drafting responses to such reports.
Research Briefing
This note provides details of the procedures to follow where an individual has a complaint about a judge’s conduct or behaviour.
Research Briefing
This Note looks at past and present law, the role of the Interception of Communications Commissioner in overseeing the present regime and recent developments in this area.
Research Briefing
Prisoners serving a custodial sentence do not have the right to vote under UK law. Prisoners on remand are able to vote under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 2000. This Standard Note provides a narrative of events from the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on 6 October 2005, in the case of Hirst v United Kingdom (No 2), to the May 2015 General Election.
Research Briefing
Information about the role of the Law Officers in England and Wales (the Attorney General and Solicitor General).
Research Briefing
Details about the criminal and civil penalties that can be imposed when a person refuses to supply information to an Electoral Registration Officer, or provides the Officer with false information.
Research Briefing
This note is designed to complement two earlier Standard Notes on extradition namely: ‘The UK/US Extradition Treaty’ (SN/HA/2204) and ‘The introduction of the European Arrest Warrant’ (SN/HA/1703) which each set out background information to the introduction of the current extradition regime (governed by the Extradition Act 2003).
Research Briefing
This paper has been published for the Report Stage debate on the Counter-Terrorism Bill . The bill is wide-ranging but the most contentious provisions relate to pre-charge detention, post charge questioning and inquests and inquiries.
Research Briefing
This Bill was introduced to the Commons on 9 May 2013. This Paper provides background for the second reading debate on this Bill expected on 24 June 2013. The Bill creates a new method for appointing the Justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, and allows for transparency in donations and loans to political parties, as well as ending dual mandates between the Assembly and the UK House of Commons. There are also some electoral administration reforms and miscellaneous changes to Northern Ireland law. Most of the provisions were subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee which published a report in March 2013.
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