Oxford University Press has published the fourth edition of Public Law by Mark Elliott and Robert Thomas.
The UK’s best-selling textbook in its field, Public Law is aimed at undergraduate students studying public law, constitutional law and administrative law. The fresh, direct and clear writing style enables students to understand the fundamentals of the subject while also encouraging them to engage with difficult issues and debate. The book guides readers through three pervasive themes — the importance of executive accountability, the shift from political to legal constitutionalism, and multilayered governance - in order to demonstrate how the many strands of public law are interlinked. Practical examples are used throughout to show students how this subject is of essential importance to everyday life in the UK, and students are exposed to the vibrancy of academic debate in this field through the inclusion of expert commentaries at the end of each chapter.
The fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect recent developments in this rapidly changing area. A new introductory chapter helps students get to grips with the key aspects of public law as a field of study, outlining why it is important, how the UK and its political system function, and the fundamentals of the constitution. Every chapter has been thoroughly updated, in particular those related to the implications of Brexit. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 are analysed in detail, considering how EU law will operate in the UK going forward as well as the wider constitutional implications of the Brexit process. Recent key judgments are addressed, including detailed discussion of the UK Supreme Court’s judgments in the Miller I and Miller II cases, which are examined with reference to fundamental constitutional principles including parliamentary sovereignty, the separation of powers, executive accountability to Parliament, and the concept of justiciability.
For more information about this book, please refer to the OUP website.
For information about other publications by Professor Elliott, please refer to his Faculty profile.