The tenth edition of this acclaimed text continues to provide a lively, comprehensive and up-to-date account of British political institutions, of the way in which they operate, and of the society in which they developed. It includes new sections on the following key areas: the monarchy and the House of Lords the 1997 general election the transformation of the Labour party and the demise of the Tory's the European Union devolution the judicial system Northern Ireland.

Anthony H.Birch is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of Victoria, Canada. He has worked in the British Civil Service, has taught political science in both Britain and North America, has served as Vice-President of the International Political Science Association, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

PART I The social basis British society and the British people PART II The constitutional framework 2 The nature of the constitution 3 The development of liberal institutions 4 The survival of medieval institutions PART III The actors and their roles 5 Political parties 6 Electors and voters 7 Pressure groups 8 Politicians and leaders 9 Government and opposition 10 Civil servants PART IV The process of government 11 Administration and policy-making 12 Parliament and the administration 13 Changing the law 14 Government at the local level 15 The European Community and Union 16 Conducting foreign policy PART V The citizen and the government 17 Citizens' rights and the law 18 Merits and problems of British government