This handbook provides a toolbox of definitions and typologies to develop a theory of multilevel constitutionalism and subnational constitutions. Developing building blocks of an explanatory theory of subnational constitutionalism, it will be essential to all those interested in comparative constitutional law, federalism and governance.

Patricia Popelier is Full Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Antwerp, director of the Research Group on Government and Law, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Kent, Centre for Federal Studies and co-promoter of the Centre of Excellence GOVTRUST.

Giacomo Delledonne is Assisant Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.

Nicholas Aroney is Professor of Constitutional Law and Fellow of the Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law at the University of Queensland.

1. Subnational Constitutionalism: Defining subnational constitutions and self-constituent capacity
2. Subnational Constitutionalism in Argentina: Provincial autonomy in a uninational federation
3. Subnational Constitutionalism in Australia: State autonomy in a uninational federation
4. Subnational Constitutionalism in Austria: The pluralisation of homogeneity
5. Subnational constitutionalism in Belgium: A matter of abstained maturity
6. Subnational Constitutionalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Towering sub-national autonomy and a loose clamp of the central level to all intents and purposes
7. Subnational Constitutionalism in Brazil: The space of state constitutions for improving Brazilian federalism
8. Subnational Constitutionalism in Canada: A hysteretic approach to distinctive constitutional identities
9. Subnational Constitutionalism in Ethiopia: Constitutional déjà vu
10. Subnational Constitutionalism in Germany: Constitutional autonomy, unitarian federalism, and intertwined policy-making
11. Subnational Constitutionalism in India: Subnational constitutionalism or constitution within the constitution?
12. Subnational Constitutionalism in Italy: Unfulfilled Expectations?
13. Subnational Constitutionalism in Malaysia: Weak states in a strong federation
14. Subnational Constitutionalism in Mexico: Medium state autonomy in a centralized federation
15. Subnational Constitutionalism in South Africa: An empty promise
16. Subnational constitutionalism in Spain: Confluence of wills in a basic institutional norm
17. Subnational Constitutionalism in Switzerland: A sleeping beauty awaiting to be kissed
18. Subnational Constitutionalism in the United Kingdom: Constitutional statutes within the context of an uncodified constitution
19. Subnational Constitutionalism in the United States: Powerful states in a powerful federation

Conclusion: Nine hypotheses to explain variation in subnational constitutional autonomy