Subjects:

Constitutional and Administrative Law

Contents:

Part One: General Principles

The Purpose of Constitutional Law

The Character of the UK Constitution

The Structure of the UK Constitution: an Overview

Constitutionalism: The Rule of Law and the Separation of Powers

Parliamentary Supremacy

Part Two: The Geographical Division of Powers

Devolved Powers

The UK Constitution and the European Union

Part Three: Governmental Institutions

Parliament

The Composition of Parliament

Parliamentary Procedure

The Crown

Ministers and Departments

The Police and the Armed Forces

Part Four: The Citizen and the State

Judicial Review of the Executive

Civil Liberties: General Principles

Freedom of Expression and Competing Private Interests

Public Order

Police Powers of Arrest and Search in the Investigation of Crime

National Security

This volume explains the basic legal principles of the UK constitution and places the law in the context of the main political ideas which have influenced its development. Presented in an accessible but critical way, the book discusses some of the most fundamental questions about government: how do we ensure that those who exercise power are accountable for their actions? and why should we entrust any group of people with the power to make binding laws and to use violence against us?

The fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and restructured to make it more accessible, and updated to emphasize current controversial problems. It now includes the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Wakeman Report on the House of Lords, reform of political parties, and the developing law under the Human Rights Act 1998.