The Governments of Europe

A systematic survey of western and central European governments that describes constitutions, executive and legislative organs, judiciaries, political parties, electoral arrangements, and local administration. The work places contemporary institutions in historical perspective by providing concise sketches of constitutional development, adopts a comparative approach treating both major and minor states, and explains the practical workings of ministries, parliaments, and municipal bodies. Prepared chiefly as a college text, chapters balance structural description with discussion of party evolution and institutional change, and point readers toward documentary and bibliographic references for more detailed investigation.