This invaluable book has been a highly successful teaching and research tool in the Netherlands for almost 25 years. It is a unique and comprehensive study of t... » 

This invaluable book has been a highly successful teaching and research tool in the Netherlands for almost 25 years. It is a unique and comprehensive study of the constitutional systems and constitutional law of fifteen Member States of the European Union. Its fully updated sixth edition was published in June 2004, and now appears in an English translation for the first time.The work describes in depth, though not in detail, the constitutional systems of the fifteen countries which were Member States of the European Union before the recent accession of ten new States. It contains chapters on Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.Each chapter starts with a sketch of the constitutional history of the country concerned as an indispensable background to a proper understanding of that country's constitution as it operates today. The outline of the constitutional system which follows, deals with the sources of constitutional law, the federal of unitary character of the state, the head of state, the government, parliament, executive-legislative relationships, the legislative process, parliamentary control of government, electoral system, political parties, post-World War II election results and governments, the judiciary, regional and local government, and fundamental rights. The chapters conclude with a short but topical bibliography.The authors are all recognized authorities in the field of comparative constitutional law, many of them have extensive practical experience as politicians, judges or senior civil servants. «