ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the context within which to consider the meaning of accountability, the UK model of parliamentary government and the importance of ministerial responsibility to Parliament, and the existing political accountability mechanisms that already operate in the United Kingdom. This review of the literature will then inform Chapter 6 and Chapter 7, where the issue of accountability within the UK Constitution, and whether impeachment could serve a role in buttressing existing accountability mechanisms, will be addressed. This chapter will offer a review of the academic literature and consider the nature of accountability. Accountability is a vast area with an ever-increasing amount of literature. Therefore, this chapter cannot attempt to provide a broad account of accountability. Instead, what will be offered is an account of how ministers are held to account for conduct that is contrary to accepted constitutional norms or perceived to be misconduct.
