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The UCNP project's 2024 workshop in Berlin underway.

The UCNP project has held a series of workshops, works-in-progress and research meetings, including in Berlin in 2024.

An exterior view of Ottawa

The UCNP project is led by researchers at Durham, uOttawa, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

Participants of the UCNP project's 2024 workshop in Berlin

The UCNP project has held a series of workshops, works-in-progress and research meetings, including in Berlin in 2024.

An external view of a building, part of the University of Göttingen.

The UCNP project is led by researchers at Durham, uOttawa, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

The Law School entrance of the Palatine Centre

The UCNP project is led by researchers at Durham, uOttawa, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

The attendees at one of the UCNP project's ECR workshops.

The UCNP project hosts a series a workshops for PhD and postdoctoral researchers.

Welcome

This project examines the phenomenon of unwritten constitutionalism from a comparative and inter-disciplinary perspective, focussing on three jurisdictions: Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

By comparing each country’s approach to unwritten constitutional norms and principles, the project's researchers will explore common issues faced by all constitutional orders, identify the factors that influence the recognition, definition and enforcement of unwritten constitutional rules, and investigate the role of judicial enforcement of a constitution’s unwritten rules in an era of democratic backsliding.

 

Keep up to date with the UCNP project

Recent outreach and media.

Highlights

Verfassungsblog Symposium

The first part of our blog symposium exploring unwritten constitutional norms and principles.
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UKCLA Blog Symposium

The second part of our blog symposium exploring unwritten constitutional norms and principles.
Big Ben in London

On 2 June, the @houseofcommons.parliament.uk will collaborate with scholars incl our members @ucllaws.bsky.social, @durham-university.bsky.social & @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social on a workshop on the role of politicians & parliamentary personnel in sustaining the unwritten dimension of constitutionalism

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— Unwritten Constitutional Norms and Principles Project (@ucnpproject.bsky.social) 6 May 2025 at 16:05

Upcoming events

A Parliamentarian's Guide to the Unwritten Constitution

Monday 2 June 2025 - Monday 2 June 2025
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Attlee Suite, Portcullis House
A poster detailing the event 'A Parliamentarian's Guide to the Unwritten Constitution', details for which can be found on the UCNP project's event pages.

Latest News

  • Liberal Democracy in the Rearview Mirror?

    Dr Seána Glennon, of the UCNP project's Canada team, on liberal democracy.
    A poster for the event, Liberal Democracy in the Rearview Mirror
  • UCNP @ Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

    The UCNP team rounded off 2024 with a workshop at HumboldtUniversität zu Berlin, focused on German perspectives on unwritten constitutionalism. Topics under discussion included the place of the 'unwritten' in German law; constitutional architecture in Canada; novel citizen innovations; legal populism; and the political dimensions of unwritten principles. 
    The UCNP project's 2024 workshop in Berlin underway.
  • Professor Stephen Tierney appointed Honorary KC

    Professor Stephen Tierney, a member of the UCNP Project's UK Research Team, has been appointed Honorary King's Counsel by His Majesty The King.
    Edinburgh

UCNP @ Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

The UCNP team rounded off 2024 with a workshop at HumboldtUniversität zu Berlin, focused on German perspectives on unwritten constitutionalism. Topics under discussion included the place of the 'unwritten' in German law; constitutional architecture in Canada; novel citizen innovations; legal populism; and the political dimensions of unwritten principles. 
The UCNP project's 2024 workshop in Berlin underway.

Professor Stephen Tierney appointed Honorary KC

Professor Stephen Tierney, a member of the UCNP Project's UK Research Team, has been appointed Honorary King's Counsel by His Majesty The King.
Edinburgh

Get in Touch

Click below to find out more about the project and its research teams

Unwritten Constitutional Norms and Principles

Durham Law School

Durham University

Palatine Centre

Stockton Road

Durham

DH1 3LE, UK

 

Telephone: +44 (0)191 334 2800