Elizabeth Giussani provides a clear and accessible examination of the key areas of constitutional and administrative law and human rights, essential for those studying law at degree or graduate diploma level.

In this 2010 book, Roger Masterman examines the dividing lines between the powers of the judicial branch of government and those of the executive and legislative branches in the light of two of the most significant constitutional reforms of recent years: the Human Rights Act (1998) and Constitutional Reform Act (2005). Both statutes have implications for the separation of powers within the United Kingdom constitution. The Human Rights Act brings the judges into much closer proximity with the decisions of political actors than previously permitted by the Wednesbury standard of review and the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty, while the Constitutional Reform Act marks the emergence of an institutionally independent judicial branch. Taken together, the two legislative schemes form the backbone of a more comprehensive system of constitutional checks and balances policed by a judicial branch underpinned by the legitimacy of institutional independence.

The fourth edition of Constitutional and Administrative Law: Text with Materials provides a wealth of essential materials drawn from a wide range of sources and integrated with lively commentary. It enables students to gain a full understanding of public law by explaining the context of its historical development and current political climate.

This book covers the main topics of Constitutional and Administrative Law courses and is intended to give students a clear idea of what the examiners are looking for. This edition has been comprehensively revised to take account of the radical programme of constitutional reform introduced by the Labour government since 1997. It gives clear examples of how to answer questions on the following topics: devolution; the Human Rights Act, including the interpretation by the courts of its chief provisions and the Act's on the key areas of police powers, public order law and freedom of expression; the Freedom of Information Act 2000; the recent Shayler litigation under the Official Secrets Act; plans for reform of the House of Lords and the Wakeham Report, the government's White Paper; and proposed reforms to the Ombudsmen system. Material on recent reforms to the European Convention system and to domestic judicial review is also included. It will be especially useful for students who may be feeling bemused by the rapid rate of change in this subject.