CONSCIENCE AND LEGISLATIVE BEHAVIOUR IN A TWO PARTY STATE: THE CASE OF MALTA
##semicolon##
https://doi.org/10.46827/ejpss.v8i2.1970##semicolon##
conscience##common.commaListSeparator## morality##common.commaListSeparator## Malta##common.commaListSeparator## two party system##common.commaListSeparator## loyalty##common.commaListSeparator## free vote##article.abstract##
In democratic political systems, it is agreed that the political behaviour of Members of Parliament (MPs) is governed by ideology and party lines, except when matters of conscience arise. Such situations, often the case of moral dilemmas, render political behaviour unpredictable (outcome is uncertain), disruptive (legislative programmes can be derailed) and chaotic (party discipline is disregarded). This paper presents results of a study carried out in the Maltese Parliament. Using a qualitative approach, sitting and former MPs, give their account on how conscience informs their parliamentary behaviour. The evidence from this study shows that conscience matters not only in highly‑contentious ethical policy questions. Indeed, conscience is a multi-faceted driver of individual political behaviour shaped by a complex interconnection of values, norms, tradition, cultural and ideological traits. More often than claimed, it can enable or hinder the MPs’ link with both political parties and the electorate.
##submission.citations##
Adonis, A. (1990), Parliament Today, Manchester University Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Parliament_Today.html?id=0Xq7AAAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y
Allen, N. (2008). "A New Ethical World of British MPs?", The Journal of Legislative Studies, 14(3), 297-314. https://doi.org/10.1080/13572330802259475
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in Psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77-101. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Corden, A. & Sainsbury, R. (2005). Using verbatim quotations in reporting qualitative social research: researchers’ views. UK: Social Policy Research Unit, University of York. Retrieved from https://www.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/pdf/verbquotresearch.pdf
Cowley, P. (1998), Conscience and Parliament, London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. Retrieved from https://www.routledge.com/Conscience-and-Parliament/Cowley/p/book/9780714643885?srsltid=AfmBOoplH1tREQZ8YgahCxMm_JNK2jIVzWd_ICxnBmkdO1GXNL9Q6wyy
Cowley, P. (1998), “Unbridled passions? Free votes, issues of conscience and the accountability of British members of parliament”, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 4:2, 70-88, DOI: 10.1080/13572339808420554. Retrieved from https://scienceon.kisti.re.kr/srch/selectPORSrchArticle.do?cn=NART07028363
Cowley, P. (2002), Revolts and Rebellions: Parliamentary Voting Under Blair, London: Politico's. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Revolts_and_Rebellions.html?id=8dADAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Donaghey, C. and Galloway, K. (2011), "Analysing conscience votes in parliament: Do churches influence the law?", James Cook University Law Review, 84-112, http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/journals/JCULawRw/2011/5.html# [Accessed 8 February 2021]
Dworkin, R. (1998), Law's Empire, Hart Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.filosoficas.unam.mx/~cruzparc/empire.pdf
Engeli, I. et al. (eds.) (2012), Morality Politics in Western Europe – Parties, Agendas and Policy Choices, Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137016690
Finnis, J. (1980), Natural Law and Natural Rights, Clarendon Press, Oxford. Retrieved from
Finnis, J. (2011), Natural Law and Natural Rights, Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://global.oup.com/academic/product/natural-law-and-natural-rights-9780199599141?cc=ro&lang=en&
Hanson, A.H. (1964), “The Purpose of Parliament”, Parliamentary Affairs, XVII(3), 279-295
Iwuagwu, E.K. (2018), "“Privatization of Conscience” Vis-À-Vis Objective Moral Norms", Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 23(7): 22-31, http://dx.doi.org/10.9790/0837-2307042231
Jensen, D. (2008), "Faith, Conscience and Legislation", The University of Queensland Law Journal, 2008: 85-100. Retrieved from https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UQLawJl/2008/14.pdf
Kam, C.J. (2009), Party Discipline and Parliamentary Politics, Cambridge University Press.
Lees, R.T. (2008), “Conscience and the Moral Mind”, Unpublished Paper, Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/33058506/Conscience_and_the_Moral_Mind [Accessed 20 January 2021]
Massis, T., and Pettiti, C. (eds.) (2004), La liberté religieuse et la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme, Droit & Justice, 2004.
Mondo, E. and Close, C. (2019), “Morality politics in the European parliament. A qualitative insight into MEPs’ voting behaviour on abortion and human embryonic stem cell research”, Journal of European Integration, 41(1): 105-122, https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2018.1487963
Murdoch, J. (2012), "Protecting the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights”, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe. Retrieved from https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/69203/
Ohmura, T. (2014), "Voting without the Party: Voting Behaviour on Issues of Conscience in the German Bundestag (1949-2013)", Unpublished Paper, ECPR General Conference, 3 – 6 September 2014, Glasgow.
Pattie, C. et al. (1994), "The Price of Conscience: The Electoral Correlates and Consequences of Free Votes and Rebellions in the British House of Commons, 1987-92", British Journal of Political Science, 24(3): 359-380. Retrieved from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-political-science/article/abs/price-of-conscience-the-electoral-correlates-and-consequences-of-free-votes-and-rebellions-in-the-british-house-of-commons-198792/FBB84AA974442A32990C63991984E1EA
Renucci, J.F. (2005), “Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights - Freedom of thought, conscience and religion”, Human Rights Files, No. 20, Council of Europe.
Ross, K., Dodds, S. and Ankeny, A. (2009), “A Matter of Conscience? The democratic significance of ‘Conscience Votes’ in legislating bioethics in Australia”, Australia Journal of Social Issues, 44, 121-144. Retrieved from https://ro.uow.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/A_matter_of_conscience_The_democratic_significance_of_conscience_votes_in_legislating_bioethics_in_Australia/27713628?file=50463222
Rush, M. (2005), Parliament Today, Manchester University Press, Manchester. Retrieved from https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9780719057953/
Searing, D. (1994), Westminster’s World: Understanding Political Roles, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Retrieved from https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674950726
Shytov, A.N. (2001), Conscience and Love in Making Judicial Decisions, Springer.
Spiteri, L. (2012), "Democracy not for sale", Times of Malta, 8 January 2012, Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/Democracy-not-for-sale.401475 [Accessed 1 February 2021]
Stuart, M. (2018), "Whips and Rebels", in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) (2018), Exploring Parliament, Oxford University Press, 255-263. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/hepl/9780198788430.003.0024
von Beyme, K. (2000), Parliamentary Democracy: Democratization, Destabilization, Reconsolidation, 1789-1999, Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0003055400400687
Warhurst, J (2008), "Conscience Voting in the Australian Federal Parliament", Australian Journal of Politics and History, 54(4): 579-596. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8497.2008.00517.x
