The Story of Constitutions

Wim Voermans is Professor of Constitutional Law at Leiden University. His research focuses on comparative constitutional law, the evolution of human groups into political societies and the genesis of constitutions, legitimacy and storytelling. Voermans has written widely on subjects related to constitutional law, including European Law, Administrative Law (and the dynamics of the Administrative State) and legislative issues. His last four books have become bestsellers in the Netherlands, selling thousands of copies over the last three years.

'A grand masterpiece that teaches as much as it inspires, this outstanding book enriches our understanding of the origins and evolution of constitutions and opens new research streams that will guide scholars for years to come. This magisterial work catapults Voermans to the Mount Rushmore of modern constitutional studies.' Richard Albert, The University of Texas at Austin

• 1. Introduction: the century of constitutions; Part I. Constitutional Diffusion: 2. Constitutions everywhere; 3. The origin of constitutions; Part II. The History of the Constitution: 4. Precursors; 5. Etched into collective memory: ancient constitutions; 6. Roman roots; 7. Mediaeval constitutions; 8. Early-modern constitutions; 9. Generations: the first generation of monarchical constitutions; 10. Second generation: revolutionary constitutions; 11. Third generation: restoration constitutions; 12. Fourth generation: liberal constitutions; 13. Fifth generation: imperial constitutions; 14. Sixth generation: Leviathan constitutions; 15. The seventh generation: liberation constitutions; 16. The eighth generation: liberal-democratic constitutions; 17. What are the lessons of history?; Part III. Concepts, Shapes and Types of Constitutions: 18. What is a constitution?; 19. Constitutional kinship; Part IV. Effects: 20. What does a constitution do?; 21. The legal meaning of constitutions; 22. Economic aspects; 23. Political aspects; Part V. The Imagined Order of the Constitution: 24. The constitution's beating heart: emotions; 25. The roots of the tree of knowledge; 26. Constitutions as vehicles for legitimacy; 27. The story of the constitution; 28. Appealing to the imagination: constitutional experience; 29. Once upon a time... There was the constitution.