Constitutions and political theory is a concise textbook offering a omprehensive analysis of the principal-agent problematic inherent in all forms of politics. It shows how rule of law institutions come in two forms that restrain opportunism in politics. And it traces the principal-agent perspective back to constitutionalism in political thought.

INTRODUCTION: CONSTITUTIONS AND RULE OF LAW – Two Interpretations of “Rule of Law”SECTION I: CONSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONS1. Two Great Constitutional Legacies2. Mini and Maxi Constitutions in the World3. Constitutional Law and the Legal OrderSECTION II. RULE OF LAW INSTITUTIONS – EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE4. Relevance of Rule of Law: Some Outcomes5. What Enhances Rule of Law?SECTION III: CONSTITUTIONALISM IN POLITICAL THOUGHT6. Emergence of Modern Constitutionalism around 16007. The Forerunners of the Principal-Agent Model of PoliticsSECTION IV: A PRINCIPAL-AGENT INTERPRETATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY8. The Principal-Agent Problem in Politics9. Political Leadership: How to Restrain Political Agents SECTION V. AGENCY AND LEADERSHIP: POLITICAL PARTIES AND STATE GOVERNMENTS 10. Political Parties, Party Government and Remuneration for Agency11. Global and Regional Constitutionalism: Constraining the Governments of StatesCONCLUDING REMARK: ACCOUNTABILITY IN POLITICS

Since constitutional arrangements are what make politics work, they are a central concern of political theory. This book, now completely updated, was the first comprehensive exploration of the political theory of constitutions.Jan-Erik Lane begins by examining the origins and history of constitutionalism and answers key questions such as: what is a constitution? Why are there constitutions? From where does constitutionalism originate? How is the constitutional state related to democracy and justice?Constitutions play a major role in domestic and international politics in the early 21st century and an updated version of this classic textbook will introduce students to a number of different areas - theoretical, empirical and moral - which will aid their understanding of this important topic.