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Hougang By-Election Case: What Court Decision On By-Election Reveals, Jack Tsen-Ta Lee
Hougang By-Election Case: What Court Decision On By-Election Reveals, Jack Tsen-Ta Lee
Jack Tsen-Ta LEE
The Singapore Court of Appeal’s judgment in Vellama d/o Marie Muthu v Attorney-General [2013] SGCA 39 – popularly known as the Hougang by-election case – shows that the Court sees its role as policing the margins rather than involving itself in the heart of politics. The Court held that the Government was incorrect in asserting the Constitution confers on it the discretion not to hold a by-election at all after a parliamentary seat falls vacant. The judgment came as a surprise to those used to a judicial stance fairly deferential towards the Government, but on balance the Court did accord …
The Campaign Finance Safeguards Of Federalism, Garrick B. Pursley
The Campaign Finance Safeguards Of Federalism, Garrick B. Pursley
Garrick B. Pursley
This article provides the first systematic account of the relationship between campaign finance and federalism. Federalism—a fundamental characteristic of the constitutional structure—depends for its stability on political mechanisms. States and their advocates and representatives in Congress, federal agencies, political parties, intergovernmental lobbying groups, and other political forums work together to check federal interference with state governments. Entire normative theories of federalism depend on the assumption that this system of political safeguards is working effectively in the background. But the federalism and constitutional theory literatures lack a rigorous account of the effects of dramatic political change on pro-federalism political dynamics. Building …