The British Constitution: A Very Short Introduction

The British constitution is regarded as unique among the constitutions of the world. What are the main characteristics of Britain's peculiar constitutional arrangements? How has the British constitution altered in response to the changing nature of its state - from England, to Britain, to the United Kingdom? What impact has the UK's developing relations with the European Union caused? These are some of the questions that Martin Loughlin addresses in thisVery Short Introduction. As a constitution, it is one that has grown organically in response to changes in the economic, political, and social environment, and which is not contained in a single authoritative text. By considering the nature and authority of the current British constitution, and placing it in the context of others, Loughlin considers how the traditional idea of a constitution came to be retained, what problems have been generated as a result of adapting a traditional approach in a modern political world, looking at what the future prospects for the British constitution are.

Martin Loughlin is Professor of Public Law at the London School of Economics. His books include Sword and Scales, The Idea of Public Law, and Foundations of Public Law. He is a Fellow of the British Academy. In 2012-13, he is the Martin and Kathleen Crane Fellow in the Law and Public Affairs Program and Visiting Professor at Princeton University.