Constitutional Reform of National Legislatures Bicameralism under Pressure
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Edited by Richard Albert, William Stamps Farish Professor in Law, University of Texas at Austin, US, Antonia Baraggia, Assistant Professor of Comparative Public Law, Department of Italian and Supranational Public Law, University of Milan and Cristina Fasone, Assistant Professor of Comparative Public Law, Department of Political Science, LUISS Guido Carli, Italy<i>'Despite its distinguished constitutional history and rationales, bicameralism has often been a contested choice. This excellent edited collection explores the pros and cons of bicameral legislative structures and especially their ability to reform themselves. Covering a rich variety of jurisdictions, the book is bound to be of great interest to comparative constitutionalist and political scientists alike.'</i><br /> --Robert Schütze, Durham Law School, UK<p><i>'This volume brings a fresh approach to and analysis of bicameralism as a constitutional law concept. The vast contribution of case studies, together with concluding chapters of each section of the book, provides depth and reflection to the overall analysis. As pointed out in the book's Foreword and Conclusion, the topic is especially relevant in times of populism and challenges to liberal democracy and constitutionalism. Anyone with an interest in comparative constitutional law in general and constitutional design and its impact on the resilience of liberal democracies in particular, will benefit from the contributions to this book.'</i><br /> --Anna Jonsson Cornell, Uppsala University, Sweden</p><p><i>'Parliaments' second chambers are often challenged to prove they have a purpose. Still bicameralism has been surprisingly resilient, against all rational approach to political institutions' engineering. Edited by three scholars from both sides of the Atlantic, this valuable collection sheds new light on why bicameralism keeps being put under pressure but is so hard to change, and is particularly relevant in light of the ongoing populist wave. A must for those who look for an answer about what to do with bicameralism today.'</i><br /> --Carlo Fusaro, University of Florence, Italy</p>
Featuring contributions from leading and emerging scholars in the field, this book provides a timely account of the tensions between bicameralism and its reform, demonstrating for the first time how this relates to the protection of liberal democracy and the rule of law. Contributors analyse the pressures that contemporary constitutional politics exert on bicameralism in an array of countries and legal systems, including the complex relationships between the EU and national second chambers.
Scholars and students of comparative and constitutional law, legislative studies and political science will find this book an invaluable resource. Policymakers at national and EU levels, parliamentarians and others working closely with parliamentary institutions will also find it insightful.