Political Tactics

Political Tactics , composed for the Estates General in the months just prior to the outbreak of the French Revolution, is one of Jeremy Bentham's most original works. It contains the earliest and perhaps most important theoretical analysis of parliamentary procedure ever written. With typical thoroughness and insight, Bentham discusses such central themes as the publicity of procedings, the rules of debate, and the proper steps to be taken in composing, proposing, and voting on a motion.

Symbols and Abbreviations

xi

Editorial Introduction

xiii

Preface

1

(4)

Discours Preliminaire

5

(8)

Political Tactics

13

(2)

General Considerations

15

(14)

General view of the subject

15

(2)

Ends that ought to be kept in view in a code of regulations relative to this head

17

(3)

Of Political Bodies in general

20

(2)

Of Permanent Bodies

22

(2)

Division of the Legislative Body into two assemblies

24

(5)

Of Publicity

29

(15)

Reasons for Publicity

29

(5)

Objections to Publicity

34

(4)

Objects to which Publicity ought to extend

38

(1)

Exceptions to the rule of Publicity

39

(1)

Means of Publicity

39

(2)

State of things in England

41

(3)

Of the Place of Meeting and its Dependencies

44

(7)

Of the Building suitable for a numerous assembly

44

(1)

Table of Motions

45

(4)

Description of a Table of Motions

49

(1)

On a Table of Regulations

50

(1)

Of What Concerns the Members Present at a Legislative Assembly

51

(14)

Of the utility of a Distinctive Dress for Members

51

(1)

Of the manner of placing the Members, and of a Rostrum for the Orators

52

(3)

Of the hours of business, fixed or free

55

(2)

Duty of attendance---Mischiefs resulting from non-attendance

57

(1)

Means of insuring attendance

58

(2)

British practice in relation to attendance

60

(1)

Of the practice of requiring a certain number to form a House

61

(1)

Visitors---mode of admission

62

(3)

Of the Presidents and Vice-Presidents Belonging to Political Assemblies

65

(7)

Of the office of President. Rules

65

(2)

Functions, competent and incompetent

67

(2)

Sequel. Choice

69

(1)

General Observations

70

(2)

Of the Mode of Proceeding in a Political Assembly in the Formation of its Decisions

72

(38)

Introductory Observations

72

(5)

Principal points to be attended to in the mode of proceeding

77

(1)

Points I. and II. Motion written, and in terminis

78

(14)

Point III. Unity of the subject of debate kept inviolate

92

(1)

Point IV. The process of debating distinct from, and prior to, that of voting

93

(8)

Point V. In debating, no fixed order of pre-audience

101

(5)

Point VI. Simultaneity of the votes

106

(4)

Of the Proposal of Measures for Adoption

110

(2)

Of the Different Acts Which Enter into the Formation of a Decree

112

(1)

Of the Promulgation of Motions---of Bills---of Amendments, and their Withdrawment

113

(4)

Of the Drawing up of Laws

117

(7)

Of Debates

124

(14)

Of the Opening of a Debate

124

(3)

Of free and strict Debate

127

(2)

Of three Debates upon every proposed law

129

(3)

Of the exclusion of Written Discourses

132

(1)

Other rules relative to Debate

133

(4)

Of the Election of Debaters

137

(1)

Of Amendments

138

(3)

Of Dilatory Motions, or Motions of Adjournment

141

(2)

Of Voting

143

(10)

General Observations

143

(1)

Of open and secret Voting

144

(5)

Of summary and distinct Voting

149

(4)

Of Committees

153

(2)

Of Special Committees

153

(1)

Of Committees of the whole House

154

(1)

Of Formulas

155

(2)

Appendix

157

(19)

Table I Heads Treated of in a Work Entitled Essays on Political Tactics

176

(1)

Table II Tabula Ataxiologica: Or, Synoptical Table

177

(2)

Endnotes

179

(20)

Collation

199

(18)

Comparative Table of Contents

217

(10)

Index of Subjects

227

(37)

Index of Names

264

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Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials