British government and the constitution

Here is a unique analysis and discussion of the working reality of the British constitution, combined with an enlightening and extremely varied selection of materials. This broad, contextual approach will be of immeasurable value to students of law, public administration, government and politics, as it presents a variety of differing viewpoints, so as to reveal and illuminate the diverse elements of the constitutional structure within which British governments exercise their powers. The book emphasizes the character of the constitution as the outcome of politics, public administration and the practice of government, as much as of courts and legislators. It also succeeds in demonstrating how the constitution is not a fixed set of rules, but a continuous, volatile clash of arguments and evolving political behaviour, its only anchorage to be found in certain traditional values and democratic principles. . The amount of fresh material and the extent of the revisions throughout this new edition is indicative of the constant fluidity of the constitution. It covers the changes wrought by 'external forces', including the Maastricht Treaty and the expansive influence of the European Convent