The British Constitution in the Twentieth Century

edited by Vernon Bogdanor

Paperback edition 2004

Published for the British Academy
by Oxford University Press

234 × 156 mm; 812 pages
paperback, ISBN 0-19-726319-4
UK price £21.99
How to Order from OUP

Essential reading for those seeking to understand the impact of the constitutional reforms of recent years

This is the first scholarly survey of the British constitution in the twentieth century. Indeed, it fills a very real gap in the history of Britain during the last hundred years.

The book is a product of interdisciplinary collaboration by a distinguished group of constitutional lawyers, historians and political scientists, and draws where possible on primary sources. Its evaluation of the recent constitutional reforms will be of particular interest.

This major interpretation of the constitution will remain authoritative for many years.

The volume is edited by Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government, Brasenose College, University of Oxford, and a Fellow of the British Academy.

CONTENTS

• Notes on Contributors
• Preface

1. Introduction, Vernon Bogdanor
2. The Constitution: Its Theory and Interpretation, Geoffrey Marshall
3. The Monarchy, Rodney Brazier
4. The Cabinet System, Anthony Seldon
5. The House of Commons, Paul Seaward & Paul Silk
6. The House of Lords, Rhodri Walters
7. The Civil Service, Vernon Bogdanor
8. Ministerial Responsibility, Diana Woodhouse
9. Government and the Judiciary, Robert Stevens
10. Administrative Law, Jeffrey Jowell
11. Civil Liberties, David Feldman
12. The Electoral System, John Curtice
13. The Demise of Local Government, Martin Loughlin
14. The Police, Clive Emsley
15. The United Kingdom as a Territorial State, Brigid Hadfield
16. Britain, Commonwealth and the End of Empire, Robert Holland
17. Britain and Europe, Ian Loveland
18. Conclusion, Vernon Bogdanor

• Appendix 1: Twentieth-century Governments
• Appendix 2: Leaders of the Major Parties in the Twentieth Century
• Appendix 3: General Election Results in the Twentieth Century
• Appendix 4: Chronology

• Table of Cases
• Table of Statutes
• Table of Reports
• Index

REVIEW

“Every chapter is richly informative.”
Ferdinand Mount, Times Literary Supplement

The volume was first launched at a panel discussion meeting on ‘The British Constitution — Can We Learn from History?’, held at the British Academy on 18 June 2003.

This is one in a select series of monographs published in connection with the British Academy’s Centenary in 2002.