Sections of new laws could be drawn up by members of the public under Tory plans to "crowd-source" legislation announced.
Experts would be able to submit draft clauses to Bills online as part of moves to involve more people in law-making.
The idea, to be piloted in the first session of a Conservative government, sits alongside proposals for legislation to pass through a "public reading stage" - including a "public reading day" when MPs and Peers would consider suggestions submitted on the internet.
Both suggestions fit within party leader David Cameron's central General Election pitch to create a "big society" by involving more people in the way the country is run.
They were outlined in a document called "Big ideas to give Britain real change", which includes a plan to ensure that all prime ministers who take office in the middle of a parliamentary term should be required to secure their own mandate by holding a general election within six months. It also sets out proposals to expand the Freedom of Information Act, including bodies such as Northern Rock and Network Rail; fund 200 postal primary elections to select parliamentary candidates; and provide greater protection for whistleblowers in the Civil Service and public sector.
The document says crowd-sourcing legislation would "help produce better Bills", adding: "Government legislation is often hastily drafted, leading to unintended consequences in the law."
The government department putting forward legislation would publish "detailed instructions" on the aims of the policy, and people would then register for an online forum which allowed them to submit draft clauses. "We expect this to include lawyers, academics and other experts," the document says.
Participants would be encouraged to rate any draft clauses put forward, with the highest-rated passed on for consideration by the the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel - the official government drafter of legislation.
Earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron said Prime Ministers who take office in the middle of a parliamentary term should be required to secure their own mandate by holding a General Election within six months.
Campaigning in Essex, Mr Cameron said that Prime Ministers should be voted into 10 Downing Street by the people of Britain, not because their party has "stitched up some deal" as happened when Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair in 2007.
To Learn More click Here
No comments:
Post a Comment