Considers the problems of constitutionalism and addresses the legal issues of making constitutions 'work'.

Preface; List of cases; List of constitutions; List of statutes; List of other instruments; Map; Introduction; 1. The democratic state in Africa: setting the scene; 2. Constitutions and the search for a viable political order; 3. Devising popular and durable national constitutions: the new constitutions of the 1990s; 4. Perfecting imperfections: amending a constitution; 5. Presidentialism and restraints upon executive power; 6. Enhancing access to the political system; 7. Making legislatures effective; 8. The judiciary and the protection of constitutional rights; 9. The devolution of power to local communities; 10. Developing autochthonous oversight bodies: human rights commissions and offices of the ombudsman; 11. Seeking constitutional control of the military; 12. Constitutionalism and emergency powers; 13. Constitutional governance: the lessons from southern and eastern experience; Bibliography; Index.