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Constitutional Systems of the World

The Constitution of the United Kingdom: A Contextual Analysis

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Praise for the previous editions
“[A] slim guide to the constitution of the United Kingdom that is both highly readable and impressively thorough. It deserves a place on undergraduate reading lists … [students] will certainly find it worth their while' Cambridge Law Journal

“[The] written style is admirably clear, conversational and free from jargon … It will be of immense interest to anybody with a general interest in UK law, politics and history.” Times Higher Education

This timely new edition addresses the many constitutional changes that have arisen since 2016 (including those brought about by Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic) whilst retaining its hallmark features of clarity and concision.

Adopting a thematic approach, it discusses questions of history, sources and conventions, the role of the Crown, Parliament and the electoral system, government and the executive, the judiciary, and the territorial distribution of power. In addition, it offers analysis of the evolution of the UK's historic non-codified constitution, its strengths and perceived weaknesses, and of reform initiatives. Engaging with the central issues in play as the UK enters a new chapter, it explores the impact on devolved government, the principle of sovereignty, the role of the courts and parliamentary reform.

As well as providing a contextual and authoritative overview of the principles, doctrines and institutions that underpin the elusive constitution, this study will allow students of law and politics, both from the UK and abroad, to develop an informed view of how it actually works.

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2007

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About the author

Peter Leyland

43 books1 follower
Peter Leyland is Professor of Public Law at SOAS, University of London and Emeritus of London Metropolitan University.

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Profile Image for Kate Goodrum.
13 reviews32 followers
August 9, 2017
Highly recommend to those studying a Constitutional Law paper at undergraduate level, especially if you haven't studied law before. It is fairly well organised into different areas of the constitution, and references a lot of important cases. There is not much detail about cases though, so is more useful as a basis to then branch out and research key cases and newer developments in more depth on your own.
Profile Image for Fifi.
114 reviews10 followers
May 1, 2023
No idea why this is on first year law students’ reading lists other than to scare them off by showing them the worst side of the law: dense dry blocks of text. Constitution law can be fun (Fisher, Young) and it can be explained clearly (Endicott, Craig) and this was the opposite of both
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