Reflections on the Constitution (Works of Harold J. Laski): The House of Commons, The Cabinet, The Civil Service

This work remains of interest to anyone concerned with Britain's political institutions and how they might be reformed. Laski was strongly in favour of utilising Britain's capacity for decisive government to drive through great social reforms. He was still confident that there was a majority will for such change and quite unable to imagine the kind of centralisation that was later to take place in the UK. If Laski is still important it is more for his pluralist view which counsel against such developments, but these lectures are still of interest in showing how a radical reformer could accept and defend established institutions like the House of Commons.

Part 1: The House of Commons 1. Contemporary Criticisms of Parliament 2. Parliamentary Government in the Twentieth Century 3. The Quality of the House of Commons 4. A Reply to Major Criticisms of Parliament 5. The Place of the Backbencher 6. Parliamentary Control of the Nationalised Industries 7. Conclusion Part 2: The Cabinet 8. The Cabinet and the Prime Minister 9. Mr. Amery's Views on the Structure of the Cabinet 10. An Alternative Structure Part 3: The Civil Service 11. The Civil Service in the Twentieth Century 12. The Administrative Class 13. The Political Rights and Social Interests of Civil Servants 14. The Scientist in the Civil Service