Comparative Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Omnibus Legislation

This book provides a comprehensive and comparative exploration of omnibus legislation, analyzing its impact on legislative processes, policymaking, and the democratic representation. It offers a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the dynamics of omnibus legislation in different countries and regions.
Omnibus legislation is the practice of combining numerous unrelated measures in one long bill, which is often passed via a highly expedited process. This book provides a comprehensive and comparative exploration of omnibus legislation, analyzing its impact on legislative processes, policymaking, and the democratic representation. It offers a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the dynamics of omnibus legislation in different countries and regions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 333 pages
Publication date: 29 May 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This groundbreaking book is the first in the world to provide a comprehensive and comparative exploration of omnibus legislation. It contributes to the ongoing global debate on omnibus legislation and offers a comprehensive, thorough, and multifaceted coverage that encompasses the fields of legislation and legisprudence, comparative law, political science, public policy, and economics. Beyond its relevance for these fields, the book will be invaluable to practitioners in parliaments, governments, and courts, ultimately impacting the actual use of omnibus legislation.

A new and controversial reform is enacted in the dead of night, buried in a massive omnibus bill that spans hundreds of pages. The legislators receive the final version of the bill at the very last minute, and they protest that they have had no opportunity to read it in detail and fully understand the implications of their vote. The majority party's legislative leaders, however, are unimpressed, and the law is eventually passed on the basis of strict party discipline.

Though it may seem far-fetched, this scenario is all too familiar in many legislatures around the world. The legislative practice of combining numerous unrelated measures in one long bill, often passed through a highly expedited process, has become a matter of intense debate and criticism in many countries.

The book aims to address this issue by providing a comprehensive analysis of omnibus legislation from a cross-national perspective. It explores the historical roots, legal frameworks, and political dynamics that shape the practice of omnibus legislation in different countries. The authors draw on a wide range of sources, including legal studies, political science research, and empirical evidence, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of omnibus legislation on legislative processes, public policy outcomes, and democratic governance.

One of the key findings of the book is that omnibus legislation can have both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, it can facilitate the passage of important legislation by combining multiple measures into a single bill, reducing the risk of political gridlock and ensuring that critical reforms are implemented promptly. On the negative side, omnibus legislation can undermine the democratic process by obscuring the individual merits of each measure and reducing the transparency and accountability of the legislative process.

The book also examines the various strategies that governments and legislatures have employed to address the challenges posed by omnibus legislation. These strategies include the use of parliamentary committees, public hearings, and sunset clauses to ensure that individual measures are reviewed and evaluated before they are included in an omnibus bill. The authors argue that these strategies can help to mitigate the negative consequences of omnibus legislation and promote greater democratic accountability.

In conclusion, this groundbreaking book provides a valuable contribution to the study of omnibus legislation and its implications for democratic governance. It offers a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the practice of omnibus legislation in different countries, drawing on a wide range of sources and perspectives. The book will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners alike, as it sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape the use of omnibus legislation and its impact on legislative processes, public policy outcomes, and democratic governance.

Weight: 534g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030727505
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021