Bicameralism
Bicameralism
Introduction:
According to L.S Wynn;
“In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. The relationship between the two chambers of a bicameral legislature can vary. In some cases, they have equal power, and in others, one chamber is clearly superior to the other.” (Wynn, 2012), the latter being the case in Ireland. The Irish constitution provides that the national parliament be known as the Oireachtas and it consists of the President and two houses, namely Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann. (Toole, 1998),
The two chambers or houses in Ireland consist of Seanad Eireann and the more powerful of the two, Dail Eireann. How both houses perform their functions has long being under scrutiny and the subject of great debate in Ireland. Taking into account the influence of the British style of government on the Irish system at independence, John Coakley and Michael Gallagher perceptively state that,
“it is no surprise that Ireland has some features of the archetypal Westminster system” (John Coakley, 2010).
The most notible, in relation to this assignment, of these influences being unbalanced bicameralism. Taking this statement into account it then raises the question and also outlines the aim of this research, which is to explore Bicameralism as an affective check and balance through the following objectives, examine how affective the second houses are in carrying out their functions, explore and contrast the merits and demerits of the Seannad in Ireland and analyse weather it should be reformed or abolished.
Functions of Second House & Should it be Abolished?:
John O’ Toole reveals that reform of the Seanad has being debated almost since its establishment. That debate has now moved onto abolition. (Toole, 1998)
The Seanad was fashioned in its current form in the 1937 Constitution. It was inspired by the idea of ‘corporatism’, shared at the time (particularly in Fascist countries). There
Introduction:
According to L.S Wynn;
“In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. The relationship between the two chambers of a bicameral legislature can vary. In some cases, they have equal power, and in others, one chamber is clearly superior to the other.” (Wynn, 2012), the latter being the case in Ireland. The Irish constitution provides that the national parliament be known as the Oireachtas and it consists of the President and two houses, namely Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann. (Toole, 1998),
The two chambers or houses in Ireland consist of Seanad Eireann and the more powerful of the two, Dail Eireann. How both houses perform their functions has long being under scrutiny and the subject of great debate in Ireland. Taking into account the influence of the British style of government on the Irish system at independence, John Coakley and Michael Gallagher perceptively state that,
“it is no surprise that Ireland has some features of the archetypal Westminster system” (John Coakley, 2010).
The most notible, in relation to this assignment, of these influences being unbalanced bicameralism. Taking this statement into account it then raises the question and also outlines the aim of this research, which is to explore Bicameralism as an affective check and balance through the following objectives, examine how affective the second houses are in carrying out their functions, explore and contrast the merits and demerits of the Seannad in Ireland and analyse weather it should be reformed or abolished.
Functions of Second House & Should it be Abolished?:
John O’ Toole reveals that reform of the Seanad has being debated almost since its establishment. That debate has now moved onto abolition. (Toole, 1998)
The Seanad was fashioned in its current form in the 1937 Constitution. It was inspired by the idea of ‘corporatism’, shared at the time (particularly in Fascist countries). There
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