Central Government

by Richard Tames

Published 14 February 2002
This simple text, supported by diagrams and colour photographs, examines the function of the prime minister, the cabinet and the civil service within the context of British government and democracy. It poses the questions: how does it work in today's world? What is the relationship with society at large? Would the country be better run if power was decentralized and shared with more local forms of government? Illustrated with quotes from MPs and other officials, the book examines whether central government is sufficiently accountable to the people it serves.

Local Government

by Richard Tames

Published 15 November 2001
What are the various institutions at the heart of British democracy? How do they work, how are they financed, and what public services do they offer? This series comprises concise guides to the different centres of power and influence in the UK: their history and their relationship to legal and human rights today. Ages 12+

The European Union

by Richard Tames

Published 15 August 2002
Concise and handy guide to the European Union fully updated for this paperback edition. This book looks at the role of the European Union from its conception to present day. It covers what the European Union is and the benefits of membership, how it came to be what it is today, its key institutions and their role, and ends by looking at future developments. At the end there is an activity which challenges the reader to find out more about the European Union and the countries which belong to it.