The Origins of Parliamentarism: A Study of Sandys’ Motion

In this study, author Tapani Turkka offers a discussion of the origins of parliamentarism in the context of early 18th century Britain. This is accomplished through the author’s personal interpretation of John Locke’s political thought in the Second Treatise. In this interpretation, the exercise of state power is not political by nature but must be separately constituted as such. According to Dr. Turkka, Locke finds this possible with his contemporaries and succeeding generations of men. It is argued that this took place without a precedent during Sir Robert Walpole’s long ascendancy (1721-1742) and due to his innovative policies. Samuel Sandys’ motion in 1741 to remove Walpole from his office as Prime Minister embodies in compact form the problems involved in the use of state power constituted as political. As such, the book allows a concentrated study of the origins of parliamentarism.