Parliament Today

Description

Parliament Today is an up-to-date textbook, explaining Parliament's historical and constitutional context but focusing on how it operates in modern Britain and how it might be reformed. It looks at parliamentary government in theory and practice, drawing widely on academic research and making extensive use of Parliament's own records. Themes and concepts are illustrated by historical, recent and contemporary examples. Where appropriate, comparisons are made with practice in other countries. Parliament is treated as a single political institution, at the same time drawing out the similarities and differences between Commons and Lords. Boxes set out themes and concepts, figures illustrate the physical layout and tables provide detailed information on Parliament's operation. Parliament Today is intended for students of politics from A-level to final year undergraduates, but also for anyone interested in what Parliament does and how it works.

Michael Rush is Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Exeter -- .

"'I know no other book on Parliament that gives such a full and clear picture of what Parliament actually does. To learn about institutions is to learn very little unless we are told what they actually do, how they work and how they are used - and abused. Michael Rush has written a small masterpiece fusing the best of the old institutional school with best of the modern process and realism approach.' Sir Bernard Crick"