This volume investigates the inherent tension between the concept of constituent power—the sovereign authority of the people—and the formal, institutionalized structures of constitutional governance. The authors, Martin Loughlin and Neil Walker, draw upon extensive expertise in legal theory and political philosophy to analyze how modern states reconcile the democratic impulse with the necessity of stable, expert-led legal frameworks. They present a rigorous argument regarding the legitimacy of constitutional arrangements in contemporary political communities.

Legal scholars and political theorists frequently cite this work as a significant contribution to the study of constitutional legitimacy. Experts note the high level of academic density and the sophisticated theoretical framework employed by the authors throughout the text.