Education: BA, University of Sheffield; MA, University of Pennsylvania, USA; PhD, University of Sheffield

Career: Lord Norton of Louth is Professor of Government and Head of the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Hull. He was appointed Professor in 1986. In 1992 he also became Director of the Centre for Legislative Studies. Following his elevation to the peerage in 1998, he was Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution from 2001 to 2004. He also chaired a commission for Leader of the Opposition, William Hague, to design ideas for the strengthening of the institution of Parliament. He has been described in The House Magazine – the journal of both Houses of Parliament – as “our greatest living expert on Parliament”. His research interests include British politics, the British parliament, the British Constitution, the British Conservative Party, comparative legislatures, and US politics and government. Lord Norton is Editor of The Journal of Legislative Studies (see url below).

Publications include: Dissension in the House of Commons 1974–1979 1980, Commons in Perspective 1981, Constitution in Flux 1982, The Political Science of British Politics (co-author) 1986, National Parliaments and the European Union (editor) 1996, The Conservative Party (editor) 1996, Parliaments and Pressure Groups in Western Europe (editor) 1999, The British Polity (fourth edition) 2001, Parliaments and Citizens in Western Europe (editor) 2002, Parliament in British Politics 2005, Politics UK (sixth edition; co-author) 2006; several pamphlets, book chapters and numerous articles in professional journals

Contact details: Address: Room 218, Department of Politics and International Studies, Wilberforce Building, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, England; Tel: +44 (0)1482 465863; Fax: +44 (0)1482 466208; Email: p.norton@hull.ac.uk ; Website: http://www.hull.ac.uk/pas/ ; Website: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/13572334.asp/ .