This book explains to a general audience what the European Union is about and how it has grown since 1952 into a polity of 25 States and a population of more than 450 million people. It explains the constitution-making process that is currently taking place in the European Union, and the significance of the draft constitution which has been submitted for ratification by the 25 member states. The book is written from a legal perspective, but contains many references to political science and recent American and European history. It aims to show how the distinctive features of a democratic polity that characterize the Member States can be gradually transplanted to the European Union. To make the book useful to a more specialized set of readers, such as students of law and politics, it contains a large number of notes that contain detailed information and point to additional reading on a variety of topics. The book draws on the author's exceptionally wide and profound knowledge of the institutions of the EU, its history, its laws and its varied cultures.

'This book, written by one of the greatest scholars of European law, provides a rare insight into the evolving European constitutionalism. Its analytical narrative explores themes of democracy, accountability, human rights and the rule of law and draws comparisons between the US and European political systems. The end result is an excellent essay on European governance'

Professor Takis Tridimas, Queen Mary University of London.