Control of the House of Representatives will be an interesting issue in next month's US election: not in the usual way, but because of its strange potential role in choosing a president.
Category: Constitutional law
On courts and constitutions
After being, by their lights, cheated out of two seats on the United States Supreme Court, the Democrats are ready to fight back, but their options are constrained by the constitution.
Collective responsibility in New South Wales
A cabinet crisis in New South Wales demonstrates some truths about how responsible government works. It also shows that coalition politics in Australia is not quite what it seems.
Still worrying about monarchy
Debate over the "palace letters" in Australia brings some focus back to the debate on monarchy vs republic. So do the woes of the former king of Spain.
Writing to the queen
John Kerr's reports to the palace show him in a poor light but fail to reveal any grand conspiracy. The political debate, however, rolls on independently of the evidence.
Will there be a 51st state?
Democrats are set on making Washington DC into a new state. It makes political but not constitutional sense.
Representation games in Australia
Victoria is to get an extra seat in the House of Representatives and Western Australia is to lose one. The difficult problem, however, is representation for the territories.
Dynastic worries in North Korea
Talk of the succession to Kim Jong-un in North Korea reminds us of some of the problems of monarchical government.
What is an opposition leader?
Fascinating constitutional issues raised by a dispute over who is (or should be) opposition leader in the Northern Territory.
A history of impeachment, part II
Transplanted to the United States, impeachment was never intended as a means to resolve political conflicts. When that use was attempted, it failed – but so did other methods.
The World is Not Enough 