The law of politics
Subtitle: elections, parties and money in Australia
By: Graeme Orr ; foreword by Colin A. Hughes
Publisher: Federation Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Annandale, N.S.W
Language: eng
Number of pages: 292
ISBN-13: 9781862878037
Subjects: Politics and government; Voting; Political parties; Election law
Description: This book is the first dedicated monograph on the law on democratic politics in Australia. It synthesises the law on elections, with a central focus on political parties, parliamentary elections and referenda at Federal and State levels. It unearths the rules that apply to elections and referenda, campaigning and political broadcasting, and political parties and money. It explains them in their political context and, while it draws on some local government case law, its focus is parliamentary politics. The longest chapter of the book is devoted to the role of courts in overseeing elections, particularly the jurisdiction of petitioning or challenging election outcomes. Orr uses all five sources of electoral law, its development, expression and interpretation, in Australia: constitutions; courts and tribunals; legislation; parliamentary committees; and electoral commissions. He documents the extraordinary detail of the legislation (there has to be a pencil in each electoral booth!) and the array of obscure cases the law has given rise to.  --
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-288) and index.
Table of contents: title: 1. Defining the Law of Politics:  Values, Games and Rituals; title: 2.  Mapping Parliaments and Weighting Votes; title: 3.  The Franchise; title: 4.  Enrolment and the Roll; title: 5. Initiating an Election; title: 6.  Political Party Regulation; title: 7. Campaigning; title: 8. Political Broadcasting; title: 9. How We Vote; title: 10. Judging Elections: The Role of the Courts in Electoral Practice; title: 11.  Political Money; title: 12. Referenda and Direct Democracy.