Centre for Legislative Studies

 

Current research

Substantial research is undertaken in the Centre. Research recently completed or presently in progress is below.

How Parliaments manage their image

This ESRC-funded research project aims to understand how parliaments in Europe manage their corporate image, focusing on the image portrayed on parliamentary websites. Specifically, it aims to uncover the decision-making processes through which the scope and content of parliamentary websites are determined and whether this is integrated with a wider parliamentary strategy for managing its image.

Further details can be found at the Managing Parliament's Image Project

Political leadership in the legislative arena

This examines leadership exercised within legislatures and puts it within the context of policy autonomy and policy making. It is to be published in a forthcoming volume on Comparative Political Leadership.

Parliaments and Citizens

This comprises an analysis of the relationship between parliament and citizens in African countries, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK. It is to be published as a special issue of The Journal of Legislative Studies.

The Englishness of Westminster

This examines how Parliament in the United Kingdom has been shaped by the history and norms of the English Parliament and how Parliament has adapted to meet the challenge of devolution in the UK. It is to be published in a forthcoming volume entitled These Englands.

Cohesion in the House of Commons

This examines party cohesion under a coalition government in the United Kingdom, focuses on the first year in office of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. It is to be published in a forthcoming volume on the coalition government.