A Short History of Parliament - by Clyve Jones (Paperback)

About the Book

A comprehensive history of parliament in the British Isles from the earliest times, covering all aspects of parliament as an institution.

Book Synopsis

A comprehensive history of parliament in the British Isles from the earliest times, covering all aspects of parliament as an institution.

A Short History of Parliament is a comprehensive institutional history, not a political history of parliament, though politics is included where, as frequently occurred, institutional changes resulted from particular political events. It covers the English parliament from its origins, the pre-1707 Scottish parliament and the pre-1800 Irish parliament, the parliament of Great Britain from 1707 and the parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801, together with sections on the post-devolution parliaments and assemblies set up in the 1990s and on parliaments in the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and the Irish Republic. It considers all aspects of parliament as an institution: membership of both the Lords and the Commons; constituencies, elections and franchises; where the Lords and the Commons met; how business was arranged and managed, including Speakers, the use of committees, the development of parties, lobbying and voting procedures; legal cases in the House of Lords; official recording of and reporting of business and debates; the conflict and balance of power between the two Houses; and the position of the monarch in parliament. Each section contains a chronology listing key events, suggestions for further reading and "inserts" - short anecdotes or accounts of particular figures or episodes which provide lively illustrations of parliament at work in different periods.

Clyve Jones is an honorary fellow of the Institute of Historical Research. He has been editor of the journal Parliamentary History since 1986. Previously he was reader in modern historyin the University of London and collection development librarian in the Institute of Historical Research. He has published extensively on the history of the House of Lords and of the peerage in the early eighteenth century.

Review Quotes

[Gives] readers a good survey of parliamentary development and to its credit pays proper attention to the invaluable work of the Lords.-- "CONTEMPORARY REVIEW"

A scholarly and very informative history, A Short History of Parliament is a top and must have [addition] to any college history collection.-- "BOOKWATCH"

Achieves the very difficult task of digesting in a single volume current understanding of all the British parliaments from the beginning. [...] It is very well-structured, easy to navigate, accessible and readable.-- "THE RICARDIAN"

For those requiring a handy bluffer's guide to Parliament that provides historical context while exploding a number of myths, A Short History of Parliament is a must.-- "TOTAL POLITICS"

The essays assembled here are a rich source of anecdote and oddity. They also set out, clearly and concisely, the institutional framework and the general ground rules under which the Westminster Parliament as well as various other British parliaments have operated. [...] Most of the contributors rise to heights of excellence, supplying the very best summaries of their field.-- "TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT"