Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Designed as a coursebook for law school teaching, this book introduces basic debates over what a constitution is and does, the nature of comparison, and the relationship(s) of constitutions to constitutionalism in its various forms. It explores how constitutions are made and changed, including recent applications of “unconstitutional constitutional amendment” doctrines, and the role of different institutions—legislatures, executives, and publics, as well as courts—in constitutional interpretation and constitutional change. Following a detailed study of the structure and interpretive approaches of national apex courts that decide constitutional questions, it goes on to consider six subject areas of importance in contemporary constitutionalism: separation of powers and emergencies; federalism and related consociational constitutional arrangements; equality and pluralism; religion; free expressions; and positive rights or duties. The book emphasizes the need to understand the broader sociolegal contexts in which constitutional design and decisions occur, with excerpts of cases and scholarly material from every region in the world—from the Global South to Europe and North America. New materials since the Third Edition include expanded discussions of abusive constitutionalism, authoritarianism, and illiberalism; more systematic treatment of informal “conventions” or norms; responses of different constitutional actors to COVID-19; expanded treatment of gender equality and LGBTQ+ issues; and materials on indigenous peoples and rights of nature.</jats:p>