New and Notable Titles.

• Position: Publications

A selection of recent publications relating to parliamentary studies prepared with the assistance of the Library of Parliament (March 2018-May 2018)

Eichhorn, Jan. "Votes at 16: New insights from Scotland on enfranchisement." Parliamentary Affairs 71 (2), April 2018, pp. 365-91.

* This article presents new evidence on the experience of 16-year olds voting after the reduction of the voting age in Scotland following the 2014 independence referendum.

Geddes, Marc. "Committee hearings of the UK Parliament: Who gives evidence and does this matter?" Parliamentary Affairs 71 (2), April 2018, pp. 283-304.

* While evidence hearings by House of Commons select committees have received increasing attention by the public and the media in recent years, academic research on this topic has remained rather thin. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative methods, this article examines this topic. It begins by explaining why evidence is important: (i) it is fundamental to sustain detailed scrutiny; (ii) it builds individual-level and institutional-level expertise; and (iii) the range of evidence gathered is used by committees to engage with the public. The article then presents empirical data of the pool of witnesses on which committees rely, which arguably does not reflect the UK population. This data analysis raises important further questions over the representative claims of committees.

Gerson, Jen. "Crashing the party." The Walrus, 15 (4), May 15, 2018 p. 13.

* Our process for choosing political leaders is flawed.

Greenberg, Daniel. "Editorial--Standards of drafting of primary legislation in the United Kingdom." Statute Law Review 39 (1), 2018, pp. v-vii,

* A particularly egregiously poor piece of statutory drafting would doubtless have attracted considerable concern and caused considerable confusion had it not mercifully escaped from the statute book as a result of the last General Election ...

Hargrave, Lotte. "Intimidation of candidates and others during political campaigns: the report and recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life." Constitution Unit, March 29, 2018, 4p

* Following the 2017 general election, the Prime Minister asked the Committee on Standards in Public Life to conduct an independent, non-partisan inquiry into the issue of intimidation and harassment during elections. The report undertakes a review of the intimidation of parliamentary candidates, a third of whom experienced harassment and intimidation during the...