イギリスの憲法は、経済、政治、社会環境の変化に呼応する形で有機的に発展してきた経緯を持ち、その特徴は、憲法典としては制定されていない、国家の性格を規定するものの集合体であるという点です。この改訂新版では、初版発行後の10年間の出来事、即ちBrexit、2014年のスコットランド独立住民投票、北アイルランドの和解などを盛り込みつつ、イギリスの憲法の本質と権限、そしてそれが将来に直面するであろう問題を分析し、論じています。(cf. Magna Carta, #321)
  

• Explains the scope and nature of the British constitution
• Examines how this unique set of constitutional arrangements has evolved
• Reflects on the future prospects of the British constitution

New to this Edition:

• Includes a discussion of the impact of developments over the decade since its first publication

   
The British constitution is regarded as unique among the constitutions of the world. What are the main characteristics of Britain's peculiar constitutional arrangements? How has the British constitution altered in response to the changing nature of its state - from England, to Britain, to the United Kingdom? What impact has the UK's developing relations with the European Union caused?

These are some of the questions that Martin Loughlin addresses in this Very Short Introduction. As a constitution, it is one that has grown organically in response to changes in the economic, political, and social environment, and which is not contained in a single authoritative text.

By considering the nature and authority of the current British constitution, and placing it in the context of others, Loughlin considers how the traditional idea of a constitution came to be retained, what problems have been generated as a result of adapting a traditional approach in a modern political world, looking at what the future prospects for the British constitution are.

In this new edition of the Very Short Introduction, Loughlin includes a disucssion of the impact of developments over the decade since its first publication, examining Brexit, the Scottish independence referendum of 2014, and the settlement in Northern Ireland.