POL224Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Parliamentary Privilege, Roundhead, Report On The Affairs Of British North America
20 Sep 2016
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Origins and evolution of democracies (continued from lecture 1) It is eventually realized that states are necessary institutions because they improve a society"s economic ef ciency: without a state, commoners and aristocrats alike would be unable to achieve favourable outcomes. The english gentry (middle-class) grew to the point where it held signi cant political in uence through voting power. Despite what one may think, the english civil war was fought on the grounds of ideology, not class: radical ideas vs. Traditional dogmas: parliament (backed by gentry) vs. royalty. Glorious revolution brings about the 1689 bill of rights, which: ended the crown"s prerogative; monarchs could no longer repeal laws and/or levy taxes without parliamentary consent, the promise of free elections. Note that these elections were not genuinely free until 1832: parliamentary privilege; mps being granted immunity from the will of the monarchy, the discouraging of unjust and cruel punishment".
