This revised second edition of the The Constitution of the United Kingdom provides a topical outline of the principles and doctrines which make up the UK's Constitution. The chapters are written in sufficient detail so anyone coming to the subject for the first time can develop a clear and informed view of how the Constitution is arranged and how it works. The second edition of this acclaimed book has been extensively rewritten to take account of constitutional developments following the 2010 general election. The main themes include discussion of the history, sources, and nature of the UK's Constitution. Chapters deal with: constitutional principles * the role of the Crown * Parliament and the electoral system * government and the executive * the constitutional role of courts, including the protection of human rights * the territorial distribution of power between central, devolved, and local government * the European Union dimension. The book offers an analytical discussion of the development of the Constitution, its strengths and perceived weaknesses, and the on-going reforms aimed at modernizing the Constitution. (Series: Constitutional Systems of the World)