This book describes the constitutions of six major federations and how they have been interpreted by their highest courts. The study compares the interpretive methods that have guided the courts, and explores the reasons for major differences between these methods, looking to the different social, historical, institutional and political circumstances.

Jeffrey Goldsworthy holds a Personal Chair at Monash University. His major interests are legal philosophy, and constitutional law, theory, and history. He has numerous publications in these fields, and is best known for his book "The Sovereignty of Parliament, History and Philosophy" (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1999), and many journal articles on constitutional interpretation.

• 1: Introduction


• 2: Mark Tushnet: United States: Eclecticism In the Service of Pragmatism


• 3: Peter Hogg: Canada: From Privy Council to Supreme Court


• 4: Jeffrey Goldsworthy: Australia: Devotion to Legalism


• 5: Donald Kommers: Germany: Balancing Rights and Duties


• 6: S.P. Sathe: India: From Positivism to Structuralism


• 7: Heinz Klug: South Africa: From Constitutional Promise to Social Transformation


• 8: Conclusions