The Origins of Parliamentarism

Tapani Turkka

doi:10.5771/9783845201818

The Origins of Parliamentarism

A Study of Sandys' Motion

Series: Studies in Political Theory

Volume 2 1. Edition 2007

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doi.org/10.5771/9783845201818
ISBN print: 978-3-8329-2615-1
ISBN online: 978-3-8452-0181-8
Nomos, Baden-Baden Nomos, Baden-Baden

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Abstract

In this study Tapani Turkka offers a discussion of the origins of parliamentarism in the context of early 18th century Britain. This is accomplished in the perspective of Dr. Turkka's new interpretation of John Locke's political thought in the Second Treatise. In this interpretation the exercise of state power is not by nature political but must be separately constituted as such. According to Turkka, Locke finds this possible to his contemporaries and succeeding generations of men. The origins of parliamentarism is seen to mean this very process of constitution of the use of state power as political. It is argued that this took place without a precedent during Sir Robert Walpole's long ascendancy (1721-1742) and due to his innovative policies.

Samuel Sandys' motion (1741) to remove Walpole from his office as Prime Minister embodies in a compact form the problems involved in the use of state power constituted as political in the context of early 18th century Britain emanating from the revolution of 1688. As such it allows a concentrated study of the origins of parliamentarism. This work will be of great interest and importance for scholars in political science and history.

Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
2–6 Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 2–6
7–8 Acknowledgements 7–8
9–33 I Introduction 9–33
- 9–14 1. Time-point, era and the longue durée; parliamentarism 9–14
- 14–21 2. “A kind of parliamentarism” 14–21
- 21–27 3. Objectives of the study 21–27
- 27–33 4. Study material and procedure 27–33
34–44 II Sandys’ Motion 34–44
- 34–37 1. The motion 34–37
- 37–41 2. The grounds for the motion 37–41
- 41–44 3. Walpole’s reply 41–44
45–63 III The Glorious Revolution 45–63
64–115 IV Locke’s Doctrine 64–115
- 64–72 1. A condition on Locke’s doctrine 64–72
- 72–79 2. The state of nature 72–79
- 79–86 3. Society 79–86
- 86–96 4. Political power 86–96
  - 86–88 4.1. Political power – what is it? 86–88
  - 88–93 4.2. The formation of political power 88–93
  - 93–96 4.3. The exercise of political power 93–96
- 96–111 5. The meaning and significance of Locke’s doctrine 96–111
  - 96–101 5.1. Meaning at point in time 96–101
  - 101–107 5.2. Significance in period 101–107
  - 107–111 5.3. Significance in the longue durée 107–111
- 111–115 6. The possibility of realisation of the doctrine 111–115
116–138 V The Constitution of the Exercise of State Power as Political 116–138
- 116–119 1. What is involved? 116–119
- 119–124 2. The locus of constitution 119–124
- 124–130 3. The problem of viability 124–130
- 130–138 4. The constitution of political power 130–138
139–158 VI Subjection to Political Power 139–158
- 139–140 1. Walpole’s programme 139–140
- 140–145 2. Freedom 140–145
- 145–155 3. Constraint 145–155
- 155–158 4. The Margin 155–158
159–215 VII Political Responsibility 159–215
- 159–175 1. Locke’s doctrine and its implementation 159–175
  - 159–160 1.1. Political responsibility in the exercise of power 159–160
  - 160–164 1.2. The legitimacy of the exercise of political power 160–164
  - 164–168 1.3. The possibility of realisation of legitimacy 164–168
  - 168–175 1.4. Re-definition of legitimacy 168–175
- 175–194 2. The exercise of state power 175–194
  - 175–177 2.1. Patterns of power 175–177
  - 177–180 2.2. The nature of the power pattern 177–180
  - 180–186 2.3. The opposition perspective 180–186
  - 186–194 2.4. The government perspective 186–194
- 194–215 3. The significance of Sandys’ motion 194–215
216–221 VIII Conclusion 216–221
222–236 Bibliography 222–236

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