Changing Forms of Accountability in Education? A Case Study of LEAs in Wales

Political mechanisms of accountability were marginalized by Conservative government reforms during the 1980s and 1990s which sought a more market-oriented approach within the public sector in order to enhance ‘consumerism’. In education, parents were given more choice between schools and were provided with more information on school performance. The promotion of market accountability has involved a reduction in the powers of local education authorities (LEAs) which had been central to the operation of political accountability. However, whilst market-based forms of accountability were firmly enhanced in principle by the legislation, to what extent have the forms of accountability operating within LEAs changed in practice? Interviews with Chief Officers and the Chair of the Education Committee are used to identify changing perceptions and practices of accountability in LEAs in Wales. The findings indicate that although local politicians and officials have been forced to operate within the legislative framework of market accountability, they have sought to impede its successful implementation. The policy community in Wales facilitated the LEAs’ capacity to respond in this way. The market-based reforms conflicted with fundamental values held in Wales, which remain those of professional accountability.     

论WTO法下的中国法制变化

中国入世后在WTO法的约束下,较快地完成了将WTO法转化为大量国内法的艰巨任务。中国入世所引起的国内法制的直接变化和法治观念的间接变化,不亚于30多年前中国法制的重建。WTO法所包括的协定尚无具有国际法效力的中文本,对于国内实施带来诸多困难,但是,中国依然通过对应式、归纳式和分散式三种国内立法转化WTO法而履行了实施义务,并由此促进了中国法制透明度的增强与法治观念的变化。诚然,就国际法与国内法的关系而言,为了进一步适应WTO法,中国《宪法》的缔约规定亟待修改,WTO法在国内的司法解释应予进一步规范,立法解释与司法解释的关系应予理顺。     

FOSTERING COOPERATION AND DIALOGUE

The Xi-Obama summit provides a chance for frank discussion on how to improve bilateral ties The meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama at Sunnylands,the former Annenberg estate in Rancho Mirage,California,on June 7-8 was unprecedented in its relatively informal     

司法成本与司法效率——中国法院的财政保障与法官激励

我国司法改革进程中,法院的财政保障构成了司法成本的主要问题。从长远的观点看应建立中央统一的司法财政与决算制度。此外,为了有效遏制司法腐败和从根本上提高司法公信力,通过渐进和配套的制度改革,将法官从一般公务员系列里独立出来并给予相对高的报酬仍应作为司法改革的一个努力方向。     

吸收科学发展新理念打造党外干部培训品牌——广西社会主义学院举办党外中青年干部培训班的主要做法和基本经验

广西社会主义学院举办的党外中青年干部培训班以学制长、规格高、学历规范、培训效果好等特点，逐渐成为“党外干部培训品牌”。课题组对党外中青班的培训理念、培训内容、培训机制、培训方式、培训管理、培训经验进行介绍和总结，并针对广西党外中青年干部队伍的现状，提出了科学推进党外中青年干部教育培训工作发展的新思路、新举措，为探索创新党外中青年干部培训的路子提供借鉴。     

网络时代的资本市场及监管法制之重塑

互联网技术正日益渗透于资本市场各个环节,并深刻影响着资本市场的结构和运行模式。网络技术与资本市场的高度融合预示着一个资本市场网络时代的到来,这需要我们重新审视已有的监管理念和监管规则,以更加从容的心态加以应对,改变以简单控制为主的监管思路和监管策略,采取积极引导、强化监管的指导思想,在发挥技术革新优势和有效监管之间积极地寻求平衡,以推动我国资本市场的成功转型。     

中国非传统安全问题的层次性与应对

由于在概念界定上存在争议,导致非传统安全所涉及的问题不断增多。本文提出,中国的非传统安全研究应以国家利益为基础,根据中国的国情及目前面临的非传统安全的特点,将其分为三个层次:第一层次是与传统安全密切相关的非传统安全议题,涉及的是国家主权和领土完整等关键利益;第二层次主要涉及社会安全问题,是国家的重要利益;第三层次涉及的是人的安全。针对不同层次的非传统安全议题,需要制定相应的战略与政策。对中国面临的非传统安全问题进行分层次研究,能够避免在面对非传统安全威胁时的盲目乐观或过度反应,明确不同层次的非传统安全议题在决策日程中的地位,从而更加合理地配置和使用资源,提高中国应对此类安全问题的能力。     

知识产权案件专业技术问题解决路径探讨——以“三人技术组、五人合议庭”审判模式为例

在当前的司法实践中,技术类知识产权案件逐渐成为影响知识产权审判整体效率和质量的最大障碍.本文在介绍各国和我国既往解决知识产权专业技术问题的经验和做法的同时,着重分析了"三人技术组、五人合议庭"的审判模式.这种以"集中技术类案件审判人员资源"为核心的新方式,试图从根本上打破制约技术类案件审判效率和质量的藩篱.     

Nothing to Lose: An Insurance Company's Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing,Punitive Damages,and The Legacies of Campbell

This article explores the potential evisceration of the deterrence function of punitive damages, one of the only economic incentives that deters insurance companies from opportunistically breaching their insurance policies. Readers will gain an understanding of why large punitive damages awards are essential in the insurance coverage field and how such awards may implicate due process standards. The article explains the constitutional limitations set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court in imposing punitive damages, and provides a roadmap of how lower courts and practitioners are presently applying these rules.     

以“五抓”为突破口强化人民调解基础作用

自2005年以来，北京市人民调解工作以“巩固基础、拓展领域、创新机制、建立联动、强化效果”为总体工作思路，以“五抓”为突破口，开拓创新、锐意进取、注重实效，使全市人民调解组织进一步规范，人民调解队伍进一步优化，人民调解网络进一步健全，人民调解化解新型矛盾纠纷的能力，