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Arend Lijphart's work on patterns of democracy in order to provide an insight through which New Labor's constitutional reforms could be analyzed in terms of representing either a minor or major shift from a traditionally majoritarian to more consensus-oriented system is utilized. Even though the New Labor is committed to far-reaching constitutional reform in principle, it is far less committed in practice.

Governance theory raises conceptual and theoretical questions about the coordination of complex social systems and the evolving role of the state within that process. A central aspect of the governance debate focuses on the ability of national governments to address salient social issues. This article examines the British Labour governments' attempts to facilitate cross-departmental inter-organizational collaboration within Whitehall in an attempt to develop innovative responses to seemingly intractable social problems. The government's desire and strategy to increase its capacity to orchestrate `joined-up' government can be interpreted as both an acceptance and a response to the challenges of modern governance. The article locates the structural, procedural and cultural responses to this challenge within the theoretical and analytical framework of governance theory. It concludes by suggesting that meaningful change in the way public policy is designed and implemented may well demand a more deep seated reappraisal of the structure of Whitehall and the dominant values of the British political elite than is currently anticipated.

This article discusses the introductioon of freedom of information (FOI) legislation in the United Kingdom, which departs from the constitutional tradition because it readjusts the balance of power within the state. The author examines the process through which the bill became legislation and evaluates the political implications of it.