The study describes parliamentary foresight studies and technology assessment, based on institutional approach. Various types of future studies, such as research forms that support decision-making and assess the expected long-term effects of technological development and human activity, have been present in the lives of some developed countries' parliaments for decades. More recently, the term future oriented technology analysis is also used, which combines the concepts of technology foresight, technology forecasting, and technology evaluation. First the study introduces the basic concepts. As part of the explanation, we will briefly learn about the American roots of technology assessment and then the temporal and institutional background of its expansion in Europe. Subsequently, a number of specific European examples will be presented of the various but mainly internal parliamentary institutional solutions for foresight and technology assessment studies. Finally, the institutional grouping of all known European parliamentary practices are part of the analysis. Foresight and technological assessment analysis activities are reflected in Parliament's three core functions. First and foremost in the legislation, as these forms are supporting parliamentary decision making processes. At the same time, these new methods strengthen and broaden parliament's political discussion function by involving members of parliament along with experts and citizens in the foresight research procedure. In countries, where the government carries out this research activity, the primary function of parliament is to provide the oversight function by controlling government thus a major function of parliament is exercised: controlling government. The various institutional and organizational solutions are linked to core functions of parliament: legislation, discussion and oversight. Therefore different functions of parliament have gained importance in practice of different countries. To sum up, the study shows that, based on the examples reviewed, parliamentary organizations or independent research organization entrusted by parliament for foresight and technology assessment studies can be successful in the long term if they are also part of a networked innovative scientific ecosystem. Therefore, successful operation is primarily to be found in these networks rather than in individual institutional solutions.
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Keywords: Parliamentary foresight research - Parliamentary technology assesment - Future oriented technology assesment - Future research - Parliamentary innovation.
Cabrera Alvaro senior information officer and chief counsellor Office of the Hungarian National Assembly alvarocabreraphd@gmail.com
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The use of veto is a tool of power for the President of the Republic, which means an opportunity to influence the legislation. According to the Hungarian regulations, the President of the Republic shall submit two types of veto: political or constitutional.
But where are the boundaries between the constitutional veto and the political veto? This paper investigates the political vetos of the incumbent President of the Republic, looking for the reasons behind these vetos. The study focuses on the factors, that play role in the head of state's decision between the two vetos, seeking for answer to the question: for what reasons he decides to submit a constitutional or a political veto.
The President of the Republic has the freedom to decide the type, the reasons for returning are not defined, the Fundamental Law - and previously the Constitution - does not include any limit for the content of a veto. The reasons for a political veto - contrary to its name - may include not only political reasons, but they may also be disagreeing with the spirit of the law, and even conscientious, professional, legal, or legal-technical reasons are possible, that do not yet reach the constitutional level.
Keywords: President of the Republic - vetos - constitutional veto - political veto - preliminary norm control
Edina Pálfi PhD student Széchenyi István University Faculty of Law and Political Sciences Department of Constitutional Law and Political Science palfiedina@citromail.hu
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John Stuart Mill, the prominent british philosopher of the ninteenth century, had to face a number of transitions in the reforming age: the transition from the classical liberalism to social liberalism, the gradual shift from individualism to collectivism, and the gradual extension of universal suffrage as well as the problem of political representation of the people. According to Mill "good" government is representative government, or representative democracy which is founded on the principle of elected officials (people voting for representatives), representing the members of a society. This process however is not devoid of danger, because it could easily turn into the tyranny of the majority, which is in fact the inherent weakness of the majority rule. This, in turn is - according to Mill - a permanent threat of democracy leading not to the development and hapiness of a society composed of free and creative individuals, but rather to the tryiumph of ignorance and stagnation in which individuals are oppressed by (the tyranny of) the majority.
The gradual shift to democratic government thus needs careful and precautious steps as well as deliberate measures, because democracy needs majority rule, but the majority of an electorate might easily pursue its own interest at the expense of those in the minority (tyranny of the majority). Mill's thoughts on majority and majority rule are worth considering for those who are interested and involved in the theories of democracy and/or in the dilemmas of majority rule. His ambitios thoughts can be considered as timely and relevant messages even today.
Keywords: liberty - representative government - order and progress - tyranny of the majority - majority of the majority - democracy
Levente Nagy Head Department, Associate Professor University of Debrecen, Faculty of Arts, Department of Political Science nagy.levente@arts.unideb.hu
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The 2019 elections were a key election for Britain. Voters had to decide on two important issues that divided the voters. One of the crucial issues was the issue of secession from the European Union (EU), Brexit. The other crucial question was whether or not Britain should move in the democratic socialist direction put by Jeremy Corbyn on the political agenda.
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Visszaugrás
