Constitution Unit reports

Select the title of the report to be taken to a summary or click ‘pdf’ to access the report itself.

Improving Government in Northern Ireland (pdf)
Alan Whysall
(Report 214, May 2026)

It has long been argued in Northern Ireland that the devolved institutions are failing to deliver effective public policy and services. In recent months, this criticism has intensified. This report, the fourth of this project and published in May 2026, says that this failure may ultimately threaten the stability of the institutions and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and considers what kind of changes may be needed.

Reform of Stormont: Options for Discussion (pdf)
Conor J. Kelly, Alan Renwick and Alan Whysall
(Report 213, March 2025)

While the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is rightly celebrated as a model on which to build a lasting peace, the governing institutions of Northern Ireland that it established have had a mixed record of success. This report provides a technical analysis of possible reforms that have been or might reasonably be proposed to the institutions of devolved government in Northern Ireland. It offers no view on the desirability of these ideas.

The Constitutional Landscape: Options for Reform (pdf)
Lisa James, Patrick Thomas, Alan Renwick and Meg Russell
(Report 212, March 2025)

The Labour government came to power in 2024 proposing reforms across the constitutional landscape, following a period when long-running tensions in the UK’s constitutional arrangements were exposed. This report provides a concise overview of the current situation and possible changes in 31 areas. It covers topics including: the legislative process; House of Lords reform; civil service reform; ministerial standards; international agreements; structure of the Union; governance of England; the franchise; party and campaign finance; and access to justice.

MPs’ Role in the Constitution: A Practical Guide (pdf)
Meg Russell and Lisa James
(Report 211, October 2024)

MPs have a central role in all democracies, but this is especially so in the UK, given the country’s tradition of ‘parliamentary sovereignty’. The election of a new parliament, with many new members, provides a key moment to reflect on the constitutional roles of MPs. This guide – published in collaboration with the Institute for Government and Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law – aims to help MPs navigate their core constitutional functions.

Northern Ireland: Challenges for the Next Westminster Government (pdf) 
Alan Whysall
(Report 210, June 2024)

This report sets out the multiple complex issues in Northern Ireland that a new Westminster government will face. Whatever its political make-up, it may want to comprehensively reappraise the way that it addresses Northern Ireland issues.

Delivering House of Commons Reform: What Works? (pdf)
Thomas Fleming and Hannah Kelly
(Report 209, June 2024)

Recent years have seen many proposals for reforming the internal procedures of the House of Commons, against a backdrop of clear public dissatisfaction with parliament. Less attention has been given to the question of how such reforms might be developed and delivered in practice. This report therefore provides an evidence-based assessment of four different approaches to developing and delivering proposals for House of Commons reform: government initiative and three different kinds of select committee exemplified by the Procedure Committee, the 2009–10 ‘Wright Committee’ and the 1997–2010 Modernisation Committee.

Trust in Public Life: Restoring the Role of Constitutional Watchdogs (pdf)
Robert Hazell and Peter Riddell
(Report 208, March 2024)

This report set out a range of strengthening measures for the system for upholding standards in public life, in detail, for implementation early in the next parliament. A key argument made in the report is that action can be taken quickly to signal a fresh start by the use of prerogative powers and legislation can follow to put the watchdogs on a statutory footing. That allows time to consult about their precise powers and functions and about the structure and remit, of a possible Ethics and Integrity Commission.

The Future of Democracy in the UK: Public Attitudes and Policy Responses (pdf)
Alan Renwick, Ben Lauderdale and Meg Russell
(Report 207, November 2023)

Between 2021 and 2023, the Constitution Unit conducted detailed research into public attitudes to democracy in the UK. This comprised two large-scale surveys of the UK population, conducted in summer 2021 and summer 2022 and a citizens’ assembly, which met over six weekends in late 2021. Previous reports set out the findings of each part of the project. This final report pulls these findings together, combining them with extensive new analysis and reflections on policy implications.

MPs’ Staff, the Unsung Heroes: An Examination of Who They Are and What They Do (pdf) 
Rebecca McKee
(Report 206, October 2023)

This report combines original analysis of existing available data with entirely new evidence from an original survey of MPs’ staff, alongside an exploration of the history of MPs’ staffing support and alternative models of staffing arrangements in other legislatures. This research provides new insights into who works for MPs, their roles and day-to-day activities, as well as their motivations, aspirations and experience in and of their jobs. It offers various reflections on areas for improvement in Westminster’s staffing arrangements.

Perspectives on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement: Examining Diverse Views, 1998–2023 (pdf)
Alan Renwick and Conor J. Kelly
(Report 205, July 2023)

This project sets out evidence on how the 1998 Agreement is seen, using interviews, focus groups and manifesto analysis. The project’s report finds that the Agreement retains widespread, but not universal, support. Even many of its supporters want change, though whether agreement on reforms will be possible remains unclear. Low trust makes finding pathways forward much harder. Leadership and a spirit of compromise – from politicians and others in Northern Ireland and from the governments in Dublin and London – will be essential in addressing these challenges.

Rebuilding and Renewing the Constitution: Options for Reform (pdf)
Meg Russell, Hannah White and Lisa James
(Report 204, July 2023)

This report, jointly published with the Institute for Government, draws together achievable proposals – most of which are already carefully thought through and supported by multiple organisations – that could alleviate constitutional concerns and pressures. These include ‘quick wins’ which could be delivered by the government now or by government within the first 100 days of a new parliament, alongside moderate changes which require consultation or legislation and larger more controversial reforms which could meet political resistance.

The British Monarchy (pdf)
Edited by Robert Hazell
(Report 203, April 2023)

This report, jointly published with UK in a Changing Europe, explains what the monarchy does and how it does it and places it in its wider historical and comparative context. This indispensable guide ahead of the coronation, features contributions from a dozen leading experts delving into a broad range of issues and topics.

The Agreement at 25: A Time for Constitutional Change in Northern Ireland? (pdf)
Alan Whysall
(Report 202, April 2023)

On the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, this report sets out the prospects for Northern Ireland’s constitutional future. It concludes that early constitutional change is unlikely, but argues that action is urgently needed to revive the Agreement.

Public Preferences for Integrity and Accountability in Politics: Results of a Second Survey of the UK Population (pdf)
Alan Renwick, Ben Lauderdale, Meg Russell and James Cleaver
(Report 201, March 2023)

This report sets out the findings of a major survey of public attitudes to the operation of our democratic system fielded by YouGov in late August and early September 2022, during the final stages of the Conservative leadership contest that followed Boris Johnson’s resignation. The survey was the second wave in a two-wave study, following an earlier survey conducted in the summer of 2021.

House of Lords Reform: Navigating the Obstacles (pdf)
Meg Russell 
(Report 200, February 2023)

This report, jointly published with the Institute for Government and Bennett Institute for Public Policy, discusses what the House of Lords does, summarises successful and unsuccessful proposals for reform in the past, explores public opinion about the House of Lords and discusses what the key reform objectives and priorities should be. It also considers what experience from other bicameral (two chamber) parliaments can teach us. This shows that the House of Lords is far from unique in being more distant from the electoral process than the first chamber or for attracting criticism.

Future Challenges for the Monarchy (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 199, December 2022)

The Queen’s death has naturally prompted reflection on the role of the monarchy in our political system. The King has very little autonomy in his constitutional role as head of state, but rather more in his ceremonial role as head of the nation. This report, jointly published with the Institute for Government and Bennett Institute for Public Policy, examines the regulation of the monarchy, the extent to which monarchs can exercise their own autonomy and how and outlines the main challenges which might be faced by King Charles III.

Reforming the Prerogative (pdf)
Robert Hazell and Charlotte Sayers-Carter
(Report 198, November 2022)

The prerogative derives from the original executive powers of the Crown which, over the years, have been superseded by statute and mostly transferred to ministers. This report provides a comprehensive guide to the operation of five such prerogative powers: the dissolution and proroguing of parliament; going to war; ratifying treaties; public appointments and passports. It illustrates the scope for reform through codification in statute, soft law or through clearer and stronger conventions. 

Swearing in the New King: The Accession and Coronation Oaths (pdf)
Robert Hazell and Bob Morris
(Report 197, October 2022)

This report explored the ancient oaths which the new sovereign must swear to at accession and coronation: to be a true and faithful Protestant, to uphold the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the rights and privileges of the Church of England. It explored how these might be revised and updated, if there is political will and parliamentary time to do so. 

The Coronation of Charles III (pdf)
Bob Morris
(Report 196, October 2022)

The UK is the only monarchy in Europe to retain a religious coronation. Kings and Queens have been anointed with holy oil and crowned in Westminster Abbey in a ceremony which goes back 1,000 years. But although ancient, the tradition is constantly evolving. In describing every coronation since that of George IV in 1821, this report shows how much the ceremony has changed – and how much it needs to change, compared with the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

Parliament’s Watchdogs: Independence and Accountability of Five Constitutional Regulators (pdf)
Robert Hazell, Marcial Boo and Zachariah Pullar
(Report 195, July 2022)

This report considers five constitutional watchdogs directly sponsored by parliament: the Electoral Commission, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Boundary Commission for England and Committee on Standards in Public Life. The central conundrum is that in regulating the ethical conduct of parliamentarians, these watchdogs are themselves accountable to and dependent on, these very parliamentarians. The report concludes with a series of practical measures to increase the independence and the accountability of parliament’s watchdogs.

Northern Ireland’s Political Future: Challenges After the Assembly Elections: A Discussion Paper (pdf)
Alan Whysall
(Report 194, May 2022)

This report – which takes the form of a discussion paper – was published immediately following the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2022. It asks whether the 1998 Agreement is still the template for stable government in Northern Ireland. It argues that there is no other plausible framework for constructive politics, but that the Agreement needs renewal.

Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK (pdf)
Alan Renwick, Kaela Scott, Meg Russell, James Cleaver and Frances Osborne
(Report 193, April 2022)

The Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK brought together 67 members of the public over six online weekends in late 2021. Assembly members were recruited at random so that they resembled the UK voting-age population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, social class, region and political attitudes. The Assembly explored what kind of democratic system people wanted in the UK, in particular, what roles people thought should be played by the government, parliament, the courts and the general public and also what expectations people had for how participants in UK democracy should behave.

What Kind of Democracy Do People Want? Results of a Survey of the UK Population (pdf)
Alan Renwick, Ben Lauderdale, Meg Russell and James Cleaver
(Report 192, January 2022)

The Constitution Unit conducted a major new survey of UK public opinion in July 2021, asking people’s views on fundamentals of the democratic system and how democracy is working in the UK. The survey was fielded online by YouGov with a sample of almost 6,500 people, representative of the voting age population across the whole UK.

Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland: Final Report (pdf)
(Report 191, May 2021)

The Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland was established in 2019 to examine how any future referendums on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland would best be designed and conducted. Its report explores each aspect of the process, including, for example, how decisions would be made on whether to call a referendum, whether referendums would best happen before or after detailed plans for the form of a united Ireland had been developed, how referendum campaigns would be regulated and who would be able to vote. The Working Group takes no view on whether such referendums should takes place.

Taking Back Control: Why the House of Commons Should Govern Its Own Time (pdf)
Meg Russell and Daniel Gover
(Report 190, January 2021)

The House of Commons is the senior chamber in the UK’s sovereign parliament, to which the executive is accountable. Yet MPs have surprisingly little control over what the Commons can discuss and when. This has caused significant controversies in recent years. This report addresses why MPs lack control of their own institution, what problems this causes and, crucially, what should be done. It picks up where the 2009-10 ‘Wright Committee’ left off by suggesting that it is time for the House of Commons to ‘Take Back Control’ of its own proceedings.

Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland: Interim Report (pdf)
(Report 189, November 2020)

The Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland was established in 2019 to examine how any future referendums on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland would best be designed and conducted. Its interim report explores each aspect of the process, including, for example, how decisions would be made on whether to call a referendum, whether referendums would best happen before or after detailed plans for the form of a united Ireland had been developed, how referendum campaigns would be regulated and who would be able to vote. The Working Group takes no view on whether such referendums should takes place.

Parliament and Brexit (pdf)
Co-edited by Meg Russell
(Report 187, March 2020)

The Brexit process may no longer dominate the news, but it remains far from over and parliament will face further Brexit-related challenges during and beyond the transition period. This report, jointly published with UK in a Changing Europe and the University of Leicester, analyses parliament’s role in the Brexit process to date and asks what changes may be needed to ensure that parliament is ready for phase two of the negotiations and beyond.  

Braking the Law: Is There, and Should There Be, an Executive Veto Over Legislation in the UK Constitution? (pdf)
Paul Evans
(Report 188, October 2020)

Twice in 2019 parliament passed legislation which mandated the Prime Minister to seek a Brexit extension, in direct contradiction to government policy. This report assesses the executive veto in light of these controversies. Analysing Westminster procedure and drawing on international comparisons, it asks whether the executive can, or should be able to, block legislation agreed by parliament.

The Mechanics of a Further Referendum on Brexit Revisited: Questions for the New Parliament (pdf)
Alan Renwick, Meg Russell, Lisa James and Jess Sargeant
(Report 186, December 2019)

Many of the parties’ manifestos for the 2019 election campaign promised a further public vote on Brexit. This report, the second on this matter, examined the scenarios under which a further referendum might have come about and considered the key questions referendum advocates in parliament would have had to face: what option would have been put to voters, whether the result should have been legally binding and how the vote would have been run.

A Northern Ireland Border Poll (pdf)
Alan Whysall
(Report 185, March 2019)

The prospect of a poll in Northern Ireland about Irish unification, provided for the Good Friday Agreement and often termed a ‘border poll’, is now widely discussed. But the provisions and wider implications of the law and the Agreement – extending to both parts of the island – are little explored. The purpose of this report is to set out the key issues and stimulate discussion. It outlines the current state of opinion on a border poll and the provision in law and the Agreement. It analyses the framework for a potential transition to a united Ireland that these provisions establish – and the many gaps in the framework.

Doing Democracy Better: How Can Information and Discourse in Election and Referendum Campaigns in the UK Be Improved? (pdf)
Alan Renwick and Michela Palese
(Report 184, March 2019)

This project sought to understand how the quality of information and public discussion during election and referendum campaigns could be improved. By examining existing practice in the UK and around the world, as well as proposals for innovative reforms, this report sets out proposals for how the conduct of election and referendum campaigns could be reformed to improve the quality of campaign discourse.

The Mechanics of a Further Referendum on Brexit (pdf) 
Jess Sargeant, Alan Renwick and Meg Russell
(Report 183, October 2018)

The possibility of a further referendum on Brexit was discussed widely during the Brexit process. This report found that a referendum would have been possible if parliament wanted it, though it would have raised a number of challenges. There were several points in the Brexit process at which such a vote could have been triggered. This report analyses the possible timing, the referendum question and the regulation of the ballot.

Report of the Independent Commission on Referendums (pdf)
(Report 182, July 2018)

The Independent Commission on Referendums was established in autumn 2017 to review the role of referendums in British democracy and consider how the rules and practice could be improved. The Commission deliberated over eight months and took evidence in all four parts of the UK. Its report makes almost 70 detailed recommendations, every one of which was agreed unanimously. 

Inaugurating a New Reign: Planning the Accession and Coronation (pdf)
Bob Morris
(Report 181, May 2018)

This report started by recording the changes of context that have occurred in the UK since 1952. It then examined what is involved in the accession ceremonies which follow soon after a monarch’s demise and how they have been adapted over the years. The next chapter considered the coronation, with a lot of practical detail, partly out of historical interest, partly to assist those planning the next coronation. It demonstrated that for all sorts of reasons, the next coronation cannot be like that of 1953.

Swearing in the New King: The Accession Declarations and Coronation Oaths (pdf)
Robert Hazell and Bob Morris
(Report 180, May 2018)

This report found that the three statutory oaths, which date from when Catholic Europe was seen as an existential threat, needed to be revised and updated or dropped altogether in our more secular and pluralist society. This would require legislation beforehand. The report offers three different reformulations of each oath, depending on how radical the government wishes to be.

Options for an English Parliament (pdf)
Meg Russell and Jack Sheldon
(Report 179, March 2018)

Ever since the establishment of the devolved assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the late 1990s some have proposed that England too should have a parliament of its own. However, little detailed work has previously been done on design options. This project hence explored the options for an English Parliament, including, among other things, the likely size, location, electoral system, powers and internal organisation of such a body, as well as the implications for the UK’s central political institutions and overall territorial structure.

Critical Friends? The Role of Non Executives on Whitehall Boards (pdf)
Robert Hazell, Alan Cogbill, David Owen, Howard Webber and Lucas Chebib
(Report 178, January 2018)

This is the first major study of non-executive board members in Whitehall, assessing their contributions in and outside departmental board meetings. This report finds that non-executives are high calibre, committed people, whose expertise is greatly valued by the civil service. Non-executives, however, find the role frustrating and feel they could be much more effective if the system only allowed.

The Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit (pdf)
Alan Renwick, Sarah Allan, Will Jennings, Rebecca McKee, Meg Russell and Graham Smith
(Report 177, December 2017)

The Constitution Unit led the team that hosted the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit in 2017. 50 members of the public – who were selected using a survey company and reflected the diversity of the UK’s population – met in Manchester over two weekends and learnt about the different options for Brexit, focusing on trade and immigration. They listened to each other, heard from and questioned a wide range of experts and deliberated in depth. At the end of the second weekend the Assembly members agreed recommendations. 

The Constitutional Standards of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution, Third Edition (pdf)
Jack Simson Caird, Robert Hazell and Dawn Oliver
(Report 176, November 2017)

This report extracts constitutional standards from a further 19 reports by the House of Lords Constitution Committee to the end of the 2015–17 parliament. It is the third report in this series.

Improving Parliamentary Scrutiny of Public Appointments (pdf)
Robert Hazell, Turan Hursit, Harmish Mehta and Peter Waller
(Report 175, July 2017)

By 2016, 80 pre-appointment hearings had been conducted, with five negative reports. The second in its series, this report was the result of a detailed analysis of the transcripts of 71 pre-appointment hearings and their results and conducted a further 25 interviews with select committee chairs and clerks, candidates and headhunters.

Blueprint for a UK Constitutional Convention (pdf)
Alan Renwick and Robert Hazell
(Report 174, June 2017)

This report looked at many questions relating to the establishment and running of a constitutional convention, such as: what form should a body designed to deliberate on constitutional options take? Would the traditional model of a commission of the great and the good be appropriate? Should a body encompassing representatives of civil society as well as politicians be considered? Or would a more genuinely inclusive assembly – including ordinary members of the public – be a better way forward? If the last, what form should this take?

The Process of Brexit: What Comes Next? (pdf)
Alan Renwick 
(Report 173, January 2017)

After the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, many questions were raised concerning the Brexit process. This working paper, jointly published with the UCL European Institute, sets out how the process of Brexit might unfold. It begins by providing an overview of the negotiations and then examines the possible roles and behaviours of each of the key actors in turn. It argues that it would have been very difficult for the government to deliver the ambitious package set out by Theresa May in her Lancaster House speech on 17 January 2017 within the two-year timeframe that she envisaged.

Finding the Good in EVEL: An Evaluation of ‘English Votes for English Laws’ (pdf)
Daniel Gover and Michael Kenny
(Report 172, November 2016)

Recent political developments have focused attention on the ‘English Question’. In response to the 2014 Scottish referendum result, the UK government initiated a procedural reform in the House of Commons known as ‘English Votes for English Laws’ (EVEL), which was formally adopted in October 2015. This report results from an in-depth academic research project into EVEL. It evaluates how the procedures fared during their first year in operation and weighs arguments for and against such a reform. Based on this analysis, it makes a series of constructive proposals to improve the current system.

Judges Keep Out: Off-the-bench Influence on the UK’s Anti-terror Regime (pdf)
Anisa Kassamali
(Report 171, October 2016)

This research provides the first systematic review of judicial impact on the UK’s anti-terrorism policies off-the-bench. The anti-terror regime has evolved rapidly over the last 15 years and the judiciary have had to adjudicate on this evolving body of legislation in the courts. Much has been written about these court decisions, with claims that the judiciary has increasingly overstepped the boundaries of their constitutional role. Much less attention has been paid to judges’ potential influence beyond their decisions in court, where this reports finds that fears of judicial overreach are unfounded.

The Queen at 90: The Changing Role of the Monarchy, and Future Challenges (pdf)
Robert Hazell and Bob Morris
(Report 170, June 2016)

This report found that the Queen is left with no discretion in the exercise of her constitutional powers. But the loss of the monarchy’s reserve powers has not necessarily diminished its standing; its acceptance by the political class may depend upon its powerlessness and complete neutrality. For the general public its popularity will depend upon its wider roles, in symbolising stability, continuity and national unity and its encouragement of public and voluntary service; plus its contribution to celebrity culture.

Forming a Government in the Event of a Hung Parliament: The UK’s Recognition Rules in Comparative Context (pdf)
Petra Schleiter, Valerie Belu and Robert Hazell
(Report 169, May 2016)

This paper considers government formation in a hung parliament. In the past, the UK has applied a range of potentially contradictory conventions and principles to determine who should be invited to form a government. These rules can provide insufficient guidance when parliament’s composition is complex and can place the monarch in an awkward position. It argues that there should be a vote in parliament to determine who should be appointed as Prime Minister and ought to be a provision to terminate gridlocked government formation processes.

Democracy Matters: Lessons from the 2015 Citizens’ Assemblies on English Devolution (pdf)
Matthew Flinders, Katie Ghose, Will Jennings, Edward Molloy, Brenton Prosser, Alan Renwick, Graham Smith and Paolo Spada
(Report 168, April 2016)

The Democracy Matters project ran two citizens’ assemblies, in Sheffield and Southampton, in autumn 2015. The project examined how successfully the citizens’ assembly model can be applied in the UK. It also explored two variants of that model: one in which all members are ordinary members of the public, the other in which a minority of members are elected politicians.

Challenge and Opportunity: The Draft Wales Bill 2015 (pdf)
Alan Cogbill, Robert Hazell, Stephen Laws, Emyr Lewis, Lowri Morgan, Richard Rawlings, Paul Silk, Alan Trench, Thomas Glyn Watkin and Richard Wyn Jones
(Report 167, February 2016)

This report, produced with the Wales Governance Centre, saw a team of academics, former civil servants and parliamentary draftsmen apply the principles developed in their first report to confer primary legislative powers under a reserved powers model to the National Assembly for Wales.

Supreme, Submissive or Symbiotic? British Courts and the European Court of Human Rights (pdf)
Roger Masterman
(Report 166, October 2015)

This report focuses on section 2(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998, which directs domestic courts to ‘take into account’ relevant decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. It says that while a new equivalent to section 2(1) might deliver symbolic change , it is unclear that it would lead to significant practical change. Attempts to significantly weaken the linkage may well prompt unintended, unpredictable and constitutionally undesirable consequences.

Delivering a Reserved Powers Model of Devolution for Wales (pdf)
(Report 165, September 2015)

This report, produced with the Wales Governance Centre, saw a team of academics, former civil servants and parliamentary draftsmen explore the difficulties involved with conferring primary legislative powers under a reserved powers model to the National Assembly for Wales and developed a set of principles.

The Constitutional Standards of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution, Second Edition (pdf)
Jack Simson Caird, Robert Hazell and Dawn Oliver
(Report 164, August 2015)

This report extracts and codifies standards from all 168 reports of the House of Lords’ Constitution Committee published from its inception in 2001 to the end of the 2010-2015 Parliament. It contains a code of 140 constitutional standards, covering five areas: the rule of law, delegated powers, the separation of powers, individual rights and parliamentary procedure. This is the second report in this series.

Devolution and the Future of the Union (pdf)
Edited by Robert Hazell
(Report 163, April 2015)

Ever since the Scottish independence referendum of September 2014 and the Vow by the three main party leaders promising further devolution to Scotland, devolution policy has developed at dizzying speed. This has been strongly criticised by committees in both Houses of Parliament because no one could say what the impact of these changes would be on the UK as a whole. This report’s authors try to chart the way ahead and assess the impact of further devolution on the future of the Union.

To Codify or Not to Codify: Lessons from Consolidating the United Kingdom’s Constitutional Statutes (pdf)
James Melton, Christine Stuart and Daniel Helen
(Report 162, March 2015)

This report contributes to the debate over codification of the UK’s constitution by comparing the contents of the existing written elements of the UK’s constitution to other countries’ constitutional texts. Reflecting on the topics ‘missing’ from the UK’s constitution offers three lessons for those contemplating further codification of the UK’s constitution: much of the UK’s constitutional order is already written down in statute form, many details about the executive, the legislature and the relationship between these two branches of government are regulated entirely by convention and further codification is not essential.

Enough is Enough: Regulating Prime Ministerial Appointments to the Lords (pdf)
Meg Russell and Tom Semlyen
(Report 161, February 2015)

Since 2010, increasingly urgent concerns have been raised about the size of the House of Lords. Thus far, debates have focused primarily on routes out of the chamber, for example via the ‘Steel bill’ (now the House of Lords Reform Act 2014), allowing peers to retire. But without limiting the way into the chamber, its size cannot be brought under control. Successive parliamentary committees have thus called for an agreed formula setting out how new appointments should be shared between the parties. But, to date, no detailed work has been done on the options for such a formula. This report, supported by the Hansard Society and Constitution Society, does the detailed work.

Demystifying Financial Privilege: Does the Commons’ Claim of Financial Primacy on Lords Amendments Need Reform? (pdf)
Meg Russell and Daniel Gover
(Report 160, March 2014)

The Constitutional Standards of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution (pdf)
Jack Simson Caird, Robert Hazell and Dawn Oliver
(Report 159, January 2014)

Being a Special Adviser (pdf)
Edited by Hilary Jackson 
(Report 158, March 2014)

Fitting the Bill: Bringing Commons Legislation Committees into Line with Best Practice (pdf)
Meg Russell, Bob Morris and Phil Larkin
(Report 157, June 2013)

Making Freedom of Information Requests: A Guide for Academic Researchers (pdf)
Gabrielle Bourke, Ben Worthy and Robert Hazell
(Report 156, July 2012)

Town Hall Transparency? The Impact of the Freedom of Information Act on English Local Government (pdf)
Ben Worthy, Jim Amos, Robert Hazell and Gabrielle Bourke
(Report 155, December 2011)

The Sword and the Shield: The use of FOI by Parliamentarians and the Impact of FOI on Parliament (pdf)
Ben Worthy and Gabrielle Bourke
(Report 154, September 2011)

Selective Influence: The Policy Impact of House of Commons Select Committees (pdf)
Meg Russell and Meghan Benton
(Report 153, June 2011)

House Full: Time to Get a Grip on Lords Appointments (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 152, April 2011)

Putting the Goats Amongst the Wolves: Appointing Ministers from outside Parliament (pdf)
Ben Yong and Robert Hazell
(Report 151, January 2011)

Fixed Term Parliaments (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 150, August 2010)

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat Agenda for Constitutional and Political Reform (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 149, June 2010)

The Conservative Agenda for Constitutional Reform (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 148, February 2010)

Making Minority Government Work: Hung parliaments and the challenges for Westminster and Whitehall (pdf)
Robert Hazell, Akash Paun, Mark Chalmers, Ben Yong and Catherine Haddon
(Report 147, December 2009)

An Elected Second Chamber: A Conservative View (pdf)
Andrew Tyrie, George Young and Roger Gough (editor)
(Report 146, July 2009)

Strengthening Parliament’s Powers of Scrutiny? An assessment of the introduction of Public Bill Committees (pdf)
Jessica Levy
(Report 145, July 2009)

Parliament’s Watchdogs: At The Crossroads (pdf)
Oonagh Gay and Barry K Winetrobe (eds.), in association with the UK Study of Parliament Group
(Report 144, December 2008)

Church and State Some Reflections on Church Establishment in England (pdf)
R.M. Morris (ed.)
(Report 143, March 2008)

The House Rules? International lessons for enhancing the autonomy of the House of Commons (pdf)
Meg Russell and Akash Paun
(Report 142, October 2007)

Towards a New Constitutional Settlement: An Agenda for Gordon Brown’s First 100 Days and Beyond (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 141, June 2007)

The House of Lords in 2006: Negotiating a Stronger Second Chamber (pdf)
Meg Russell and Maria Sciara
(Report 140, January 2007)

Old wine in New Bottles? Wales-Whitehall Relations after The Government Of Wales Act 2006 (pdf)
Alan Trench
(Report 138, January 2007)

Tomorrow’s Government Lecture, RSA (pdf)
Lord Wilson of Dinton
(Report 137, December 2006)

Time for a new Convention: Parliamentary Scrutiny of Constitutional Bills 1997–2005 (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 136, May 2006)

Managing Parliament Better? A Business Committee for the House of Commons (pdf)
Edited by Meg Russell and Akash Paun
(Report 135, August 2006)

Freedom of Information: Balancing the Public Interest (pdf)
Megan Carter and Andrew Bouris
(Report 134, May 2006)

Church and State: A Mapping Exercise (pdf)
Frank Cranmer, John Lucas and Bob Morris
(Report 133, April 2006)

The House of Lords in 2005: A More Representative and Assertive Chamber (pdf)
Meg Russell and Maria Sciara
(Report 132, February 2006)

The English Question (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 130, January 2006)

Wave upon Wave: the Continuing Dynamism of Constitutional Reform (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 129, January 2006)

Westminster and the English Question (pdf)
Meg Russell and Guy Lodge
(Report 128, November 2005)

From Strategy to Delivery: The future development of the Greater London Authority (pdf)
Mark Sandford
(Report 127, November 2005)

The Local Work of Scottish MPs and MSPs: Effects of Non-coterminous Boundaries and AMS (pdf)
Jonathan Bradbury and Meg Russell
(Report 125, May 2005)

Better Governance for Wales: An Analysis of the White Paper on Devolution for Wales (pdf)
Alan Trench
(Report 123, August 2005)

Regional Leadership in Public Health: Fragmented London and the London Health Commission (pdf)
Scott Greer and Mark Sandford
(Report 122, September 2005)

Access to Personal Information—A Handbook for Officials (pdf)
John Woulds, Graham Sutton and Sarah Holsen
(Report 121, March 2005)

Effective Scrutiny: Tools and intended outcomes (pdf)
Mark Sandford
(Report 120, February 2005)

Reforming the House of Lords: Breaking the Deadlock (pdf)
Paul Tyler et al
(Report 119, February 2005)

A Practical Guide to the Data Protection Act (pdf)
John Woulds
(Report 118, December 2004)

The Scrutiny Role of Regional Assemblies (pdf)
Mark Sandford
(Report 117, December 2004)

The development of scrutiny in the UK: An overview of procedures and practices (pdf)
Mark Sandford and Lucinda Maer
(Report 116, February 2004)

Freedom of Information and Procurement: A Practical Guide for Public Authorities (pdf)
Jim Amos and Maeve McDonagh
(Report 115b, November 2004)

A Practical Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (pdf)
Jim Amos and Sarah Holsen
(Report 115, October 2004)

Commentary on the Draft Regional Assemblies Bill (pdf)
Mark Sandford
(Report 114, August 2004)

Issues of Importance: The scrutiny role of the London Assembly (pdf)
Mark Sandford and Lucinda Maer
(Report 113, June 2004)

Is Britain Facing a Crisis of Democracy? (pdf)
Catherine Bromley, John Curtice and Ben Seyd
(Report 112, June 2004)

Select Committees under Scrutiny (pdf)
Mark Sandford and Lucinda Maer
(Report 111, June 2004)

Coalition Government in Scotland and Wales (pdf)
Ben Seyd
(Report 110, March 2004)

Changed Voting Changed Politics: Lessons of Britain’s Experience of PR since 1997 (pdf)
Independent Commission on PR
(Report 109, March 2004)

Changing for Good—Devolution: The Silent Revolution (pdf)
Peter Hain
(Report 108, March 2004)

Old Habits Die Hard? Overview and Scrutiny in English local authorities (pdf)
Mark Sandford and Lucinda Maer
(Report 107, January 2004)

Four Way Bet: How devolution has led to four different models for the NHS (pdf)
Scott Greer
(Report 106, February 2004)

Next Steps in Lords Reform: Response to the September 2003 White Paper (pdf)
Meg Russell and Robert Hazell
(Report 105, November 2003)

Scrutiny under Devolution (pdf)
Mark Sandford and Lucinda Maer
(Report 104, November 2003)

Parliamentary Audit Scrutiny: Innovative and effective? (pdf)
Oonagh Gay and Barry K Winetrobe
(Report 103, April 2003)

Regulating the Behaviour of Ministers, Civil Servants and Special Advisers (pdf)
Simon King
(Report 102, June 2003)

Intergovernmental Relations in Canada: Lessons for the UK (pdf)
Alan Trench
(Report 101, October 2003)

Officers of Parliament—Transforming the role (pdf)
Oonagh Gay and Barry K Winetrobe
(Report 100, April 2003)

Fixing London (pdf)
Scott Greer and Mark Sandford
(Report 99, February 2003)

Achievements of the Scottish Parliament, State of the Nations Annual Lecture (pdf)
David Steel
(Report 98, February 2003)

Balancing the Public Interest: Applying the public interest test to exemptions in the UK Freedom of Information Act 2000 (pdf)
Meredith Cook
(Report 97, August 2003)

Inclusiveness of Regional Chambers (pdf)
Mark Sandford
(Report 96, October 2002)

Survey of Data Protection Officers (pdf)
Meredith Cook
(Report 95, September 2002)

The Cornish Question—Devolution to the South-West (pdf)
Mark Sandford
(Report 94, September 2002)

Access to Personal Information (pdf)
John Woulds
(Report 93, July 2002)

A Comment on the Government’s Regional Government White Paper (pdf)
Mark Sandford
(Report 92, June 2002)

The Regulation of Parliamentary Standards—A Comparative Perspective (pdf)
Oonagh Gay
(Report 91, May 2002)

A New Supreme Court for the United Kingdom, Constitution Unit Annual Lecture (pdf)
Lord Bingham of Cornhill
(Report 90, May 2002)

Women’s Political Participation in the UK (pdf)
Meg Russell, Joni Lovenduski and Mary-Ann Stephenson
(Report 89, May 2002)

Whitehall and the Human Rights Act 1998: The First Year (pdf)
Jeremy Croft
(Report 88, March 2002)

Has Constitutional Reform ‘Reconnected’ Voters with their Government? (pdf)
Ben Seyd 
(Report 87, February 2002)

Commentary on the White Paper: The House of Lords—Completing the Reform (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 86, January 2002)

A Modern Parliament in a Modern Democracy, State of the Union Annual Lecture (pdf)
Robin Cook
(Report 85, December 2001)

Coalition Government in Britain: Lessons from Overseas (pdf)
Ben Seyd
(Report 84, January 2002)

Further Steps for Regional Chambers (pdf)
Mark Sandford
(Report 83, December 2001)

Realising the Vision: a Parliament with a Purpose. An audit of the first year of the Scottish Parliament (pdf)
Barry K Winetrobe
(Report 82, October 2001)

Regional Government and Public Health (pdf)
Scott Greer and Mark Sandford
(Report 81, November 2001)

The Women’s Representation Bill: Making it Happen (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 79, July 2001)

The Human Rights Act 1998 and Access to NHS Treatment and Services: A Practical Guide (pdf)
Elizabeth Haggett
(Report 78, July 2001)

Unexplored Territory: Elected Regional Assemblies in England (pdf)
Mark Sandford and Paul McQuail
(Report 77, July 2001)

The Future of the United Kingdom’s Highest Courts (pdf)
Andrew le Sueur and Richard Cornes
(Report 76, July 2001)

The Functions of Intergovernmental Agreements: Post-Devolution Concordats in a Comparative Perspective (pdf)
Johanne Poirier
(Report 75, June 2001)

A Democratic Design? The political style of the Northern Ireland Assembly (pdf)
Rick Wilford and Robin Wilson
(Report 74, May 2001)

What We Already Know: Lessons on Voting Reform from Britain’s first PR Elections (pdf)
Philip Cowley, John Curtice, Stephen Lochone and Ben Seyd
(Report 73, May 2001)

What is the Future for the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council? (pdf)
Andrew le Sueur
(Report 72, May 2001)

A Practical Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (pdf)
Jim Amos, Dick Baxter, Jeremy Croft and Robert Hazell
(Report 71, March 2001)

Unfinished Business: Implementing Labour’s Constitutional Reform Agenda for the Second Term (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 70, May 2001)

Three into One Won’t Go: The Future of the Territorial Secretaries of State (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 69, March 2001)

Scotland’s Place in Europe (pdf)
Jo Murkens
(Report 68, February 2001)

The Commons: Reform or Modernisation (pdf)
Andrew Kennon
(Report 67, January 2001)

An Unstable Union: Devolution and the English Question (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 66, December 2000)

Managing Conflicts after Devolution: A Toolkit for Civil Servants (pdf)
Lucy Hunter
(Report 65, December 2000)

Regional Government in France and Spain (pdf)
Andy Smith and Paul Haywood
(Report 64, August 2000)

Parliamentary Scrutiny of Draft Legislation 1997–1999 (pdf)
Greg Power
(Report 63, August 2000)

Wakeham in the Long Grass: Can The Lords Guard Democracy? (pdf)
Lord Alexander of Weedon
(Report 62, June 2000)

Whitehall and the Human Rights Act 1998 (pdf)
Jeremy Croft
(Report 61, October 2000)

Women’s Representation in UK Politics: What can be done within the law? (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 60, June 2000)

What do the Top Courts Do? (pdf)
Andrew le Sueur and Richard Cornes
(Report 59, June 2000)

The Future of the House of Lords: Conference Papers (pdf)
(Report 58, April 2000)

Wise After the Event? Attitudes to Voting Reform Following the 1999 Scottish and Welsh Elections (pdf)
John Curtice, Ben Seyd, Alison Park and Katarina Thomson
(Report 57, March 2000)

A Guide for Business to the FOI Act 2000 (pdf)
Jim Amos and Gordon Innes
(Report 56, March 2000)

Commentary on the Wakeham Report on Reform of the House of Lords (pdf)
Meg Russell and Robert Hazell
(Report 55, February 2000)

Devolution and Health: First Annual Report (pdf)
Edited by Paul Jervis and William Plowden
(Report 54, February 2000)

Rights and Responsibilities in the New Democracy, Constitution Unit Annual Lecture (pdf)
Jack Straw
(Report 53, October 1999)

The House of Lords: In Defence of Human Rights (pdf)
Aisling Reidy
(Report 52, October 1999)

Issues Around Scottish Independence (pdf)
David Sinclair
(Report 51, September 1999)

Representing the Nations and Regions in a New Upper House: Lessons from Overseas (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 50, June 1999)

A Human Rights Committee for Westminster (pdf)
Aisling Reidy
(Report 49, June 1999)

Commentary on the Draft Freedom of Information Bill (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 48, June 1999)

Freedom of Information and Business (pdf)
Jim Amos
(Report 47, June 1999)

Populism or Pluralism? New Labour and the Constitution (pdf)
David Marquand
(Report 46, May 1999)

A Transitional House of Lords: The Numbers (pdf)
Ben Seyd
(Report 45, June 1999)

Second Chambers as Constitutional Guardians and Protectors of Human Rights (pdf)
Meg Russell and Aisling Reidy 
(Report 44, June 1999)

Second Chambers: Resolving Deadlock (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 43, May 1999)

Reforming the Lords: The Role of the Law Lords (pdf)
Richard Cornes
(Report 42, May 1999)

Reforming the Lords: The Role of the Bishops (pdf)
Janet Lewis-Jones
(Report 41, May 1999)

Second Chambers Overseas: Lessons from Italy and Australia (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 40, May 1999)

A Directly Elected Upper House? (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 39, May 1999)

The Constitutionalisation of Public Law (pdf)
Lord Steyn
(Report 38, May 1999)

The Impact of the Human Rights Act: Lessons from Canada and New Zealand (pdf)
Aisling Reidy
(Report 37, May 1999)

A Vocationally Based Upper House? Lessons from Ireland (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 36, February 1999)

Government’s Programme of Constitutional Reform (pdf)
Lord Irvine of Lairg
(Report 35, May 1999)

‘Democracy Day’: Planning for the Referendums on PR and Lords reform (pdf)
Ben Seyd
(Report 34, March 1999)

Re-inventing the Constitution: Can the State Survive? (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 33, November 1998)

A Panacea for Local Government? The Role of PR (pdf)
David Sinclair
(Report 32, November 1998)

New Electoral Systems: What Voters Need to Know (pdf)
Clarissa White, Alan Hedges and Ben Seyd
(Report 31, March 1998)

Quinquennial Review of the Local Government Commission (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 30, March 1998)

An Appointed Upper House: Lessons from Canada (pdf)
Meg Russell
(Report 29, November 1998)

The British-Irish Council: Nordic Lessons for the Council of the Isles (pdf)
Mads Qvortrup and Robert Hazell
(Report 28, October 1998)

Single Chamber Parliaments: A Comparative Study (Stage Two) (pdf)
Richard Cornes
(Report 27, September 1998)

Multi-Layer Democracy in Germany: Insights for Scottish Devolution (pdf)
Charlie Jeffery
(Report 26, July 1998)

The British-Irish Agreement: Power-Sharing Plus (pdf)
Brendan O’Leary
(Report 25, June 1998)

Checks and Balances in Single Chamber Parliaments: A Comparative Study (pdf)
Richard Cornes
(Report 24, February 1998)

Electoral Reform in New Zealand: Lessons for the UK (pdf)
Ben Seyd
(Report 23, August 1998)

Devolution and Health: Final Report (pdf)
Robert Hazell and Paul Jervis
(Report 21, June 1998)

Elections Under Regional Lists: A Guide to the New System for Electing MEPs (pdf)
Ben Seyd
(Report 20, January 1998)

Commentary on the Freedom of Information White Paper (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 19, January 1998)

Rebalancing the Lords: The Numbers (pdf)
Ben Seyd
(Report 18, January 1998)

Reforming the Lords: A step by step guide (pdf)
Robert Hazell and Ben Seyd
(Report 17, January 1998)

Rights Brought Home: A briefing on the Human Rights Bill with amendments (pdf)
Francesa Klug with Rabinder Singh and Murray Hunt
(Report 16, November 1997)

Commentary on the Welsh White Paper (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 15, September 1997)

Constitutional Reform and the New Labour Government (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 14, July 1997)

Delivering Constitutional Reform: The Collected Briefings (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 13, July 1997)

Changing the Electoral System (pdf)
Katy Donnelly
(Report 12, March 1997)

Establishing an Electoral Commission (pdf)
(Report 11, March 1997)

Constitutional Watchdogs (pdf)
Nicole Smith
(Report 10, March 1997)

Introducing Freedom of Information (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 9, January 1997)

Devolution in the Round (pdf)
(Report 8, June 1996) 

Report of the Commission on the Conduct of Referendums (pdf)
(Report 7, November 1996)

Human Rights Legislation (pdf)
Nicole Smith
(Report 6, November 1996)

Regional Government in England (pdf)
Paul McQuail
(Report 5, June 1996)

An Assembly for Wales (pdf)
Robert Hazell
(Report 4, June 1996)

Scotland’s Parliament: Fundamentals for a New Scotland Act (pdf)
Graham Leicester
(Report 3, June 1996)

Reform of the House of Lords (pdf)
Nicole Smith
(Report 2, April 1996)

Delivering Constitutional Reform (pdf)
Nicole Smith and Katy Donnelly
(Report 1, April 1996)