Unwritten Constitutional Norms and Principles
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/Prebends-Bridge.jpg)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/Berlin-workshop.jpg)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/uOttawaFinal-18.jpg)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/Berlin-Hi-Res.jpg)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/JAN_3077.jpg)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/45878.jpg)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/Madrid-ECR-workshop.jpg)
1/6
Welcome
This project examines the phenomenon of unwritten constitutionalism from a comparative and inter-disciplinary perspective, focussing on three jurisdictions: Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
By comparing each country’s approach to unwritten constitutional norms and principles, the project's researchers will explore common issues faced by all constitutional orders, identify the factors that influence the recognition, definition and enforcement of unwritten constitutional rules, and investigate the role of judicial enforcement of a constitution’s unwritten rules in an era of democratic backsliding.
Keep up to date with the UCNP project
Recent outreach and media.
Highlights
-
Verfassungsblog Symposium
The first part of our blog symposium exploring unwritten constitutional norms and principles.
-
UKCLA Blog Symposium
The second part of our blog symposium exploring unwritten constitutional norms and principles.
Verfassungsblog Symposium
UKCLA Blog Symposium
Upcoming events
Our Workshops
Take a look at some of the UCNP project's previous research workshops.
Latest News
-
A Parliamentarian's Guide to the Unwritten Constitution
On Monday 2nd June, the UCNP project, in collaboration with the UK Parliament’s Public Administration and Constitution Hub and UCL's Global Centre for Democratic Constitutionalism, held a workshop exploring the role of politicians and key parliamentary personnel in sustaining the unwritten dimension of constitutionalism. This event, hosted in Westminster, featured panellists from UCL, Durham University, the Institute for Government, uOttawa, and Parliament itself.Research news/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/UKP-Poster.jpg)
-
Liberal Democracy in the Rearview Mirror?
Dr Seána Glennon, of the UCNP project's Canada team, on liberal democracy.Research news/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/Liberal-Democracy-in-the-Rearview-Mirror.jpg)
-
UCNP @ Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
The UCNP team rounded off 2024 with a workshop at HumboldtUniversität zu Berlin, focused on German perspectives on unwritten constitutionalism. Topics under discussion included the place of the 'unwritten' in German law; constitutional architecture in Canada; novel citizen innovations; legal populism; and the political dimensions of unwritten principles.Research news/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/law-school/unwritten-constitutional-norms-and-principles/Berlin-workshop.jpg)
A Parliamentarian's Guide to the Unwritten Constitution
On Monday 2nd June, the UCNP project, in collaboration with the UK Parliament’s Public Administration and Constitution Hub and UCL's Global Centre for Democratic Constitutionalism, held a workshop exploring the role of politicians and key parliamentary personnel in sustaining the unwritten dimension of constitutionalism. This event, hosted in Westminster, featured panellists from UCL, Durham University, the Institute for Government, uOttawa, and Parliament itself.
Liberal Democracy in the Rearview Mirror?
UCNP @ Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Get in Touch
Click below to find out more about the project and its research teams
Unwritten Constitutional Norms and Principles
Durham Law School
Durham University
Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)191 334 2800