On a matter as political as the timing of a general election, is our constitutional monarch conventionally bound by the advice of the prime minister?

IN the last few days, there have been many high-profile convictions for serious offences. These raise many riveting issues of constitutional law that require thoughtful consideration.

As we celebrate 65 years of political freedom, we need to overcome the slavery of our minds to racist and religious bigotry.

WHENEVER the state employs the penal law to enforce morality, crimi­nalise vice or regulate personal autonomy, constitutional issues will arise. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking (CTPS) Bill is being subjected to critical parliamentary and public scrutiny. In the spirit of democracy, this scrutiny should be welcomed.

IN a commendable move, a multi-party Parliamentary Caucus was launched on July 20 by 13 prominent MPs to promote institutional reform of Parliament and facilitate public participation in the parliamentary process.

IN contrast to unitary states, a federation is marked by the existence of dual governments. There is a constitutional division of legislative, executive, judicial and financial powers between the central government and semi-autonomous state/provincial/regional governments. There is “self-rule plus shared rule”.

The attainment of success is rooted not so much in ability but in positive mental attitudes, and planned and disciplined hard work.

Can the PM fix the date for dissolution of Parliament and the next general election?

THE Federal Constitution combines the great offices of the Attorney General (AG) and Public Prosecutor (PP). This was a serious misjudgment by the Reid Commission that drafted our Constitution in 1957, and its inimical effect on the rule of law has elicited learned proposals for reform from the Bar Council, Transparency International, Insti­tute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), and the Institutional Reform Committee.

One can only speculate about the political implications of the reforms, which would greatly enlarge the electorate for the next general election.

An anti-defection law by itself cannot clean up our politics. Nevertheless, the experiment is worth a try.

We need to put our heads and hearts together to see how our patriarchal past can accommodate the contemporary demand for equality and dignity.