In a fresh appraisal of the fundamental doctrines of constitutional law, Trevor Allan examines the nature of the rule of law and the separation of powers. He refutes the traditional doctrine of unlimited parliamentary sovereignty, challenges the orthodox distinction between law and convention, and considers the character of common law rights and the nature and purpose of judicial review of administrative action. This book will be of interest to constitutional lawyers, legal and political theorists, and political scientists.

This volume examines the concept of the rule of law, arguing that the principles it identifies provide the foundations of a liberal democratic legal order. It explains the essential connections between a range of matters fundamental to the relationship between citizen and state, including freedom of speech, civil disobediance, procedural fairness, and administrative justice.