CONSCIENCE AND LEGISLATIVE BEHAVIOUR IN A TWO PARTY STATE: THE CASE OF MALTA

Mario Thomas Vassallo, George Vital Zammit

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.

 

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Keywords


conscience; morality; Malta; two party system; loyalty, free vote

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejpss.v8i2.1970

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