Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Constitutions and constitutionalism -- Conditions for a constitution -- Democracy, or taming an unruly friend -- Dangerous liaisons: separation of powers and checks and balances -- Federalism -- Parliamentarism and the legislative branch -- The executive power -- The rule of law and its executors -- Who guards the guardians? constitutional adjudication -- Rights -- Constitutions under stress -- Multi-layered constitutionalism, globalization and the revival of the nation state.

Sajó and Uitz's intellectual history of the constitutional ideal is rich in contextual detail and informed by case studies that give an overview of both the theory and practice of constitutionalism worldwide. Classic constitutions are contrasted with twentieth-century and contemporary endeavours, and experimentations in checks and balances. Their endeavour is neither apologetic (and certainly not celebratory), nor purely defensive: this book demonstrates why constitutionalism should continue to matter. Between the rise of populist, anti-constitutional sentiment and the normalization of the apparatus of counter-terrorism, it is imperative that the political communities who seek to sustain democracy as freedom understand the importance of constitutionalism. This book is essential reading for students of law and general readers without prior knowledge of the field, as well as those in politics who believe they know how government works. It shows what is at stake in the debate on constitutionalism.