The six volumes of the German Constitutional Documents encompass more than 100 texts from Napoleonic times to the St. Paul's Church Constitution of 1849. They are published as part of the series entitled Constitutions of the World from the late 18th Century to the Middle of the 19th Century, a unique source edition that includes a complete collection of authentic historical constitutional texts for the period in question, all of which are annotated and indexed. Volume IV contains 26 constitutional documents for individual German states arranged in alphabetical and chronological order, from Hesse-Kassel to Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The German Basic Law, enacted in 1949 after total defeat and the experience of totalitarian barbarism, has become a model for constitutions around the world and a prominent example of modern constitutionalism. It features five fundamental principles - democracy, rule of law/Rechtsstaat, the social state, republican government and federalism - each expressly guaranteed and protected against constitutional amendment. As such the German Basic Law is a prime example of a cooperative and predominantly executive federalism characterised by a high degree of unitarianism and equality of its member states. The institutional structure, featuring the principle of the separation of powers, is a parliamentary system of government, in which the Chancellor and the political parties play leading roles. The Bundestag remains a powerful Parliament, while the Bundesrat and the Prime Ministers of the Lander act as an important counterweight. The Constitutional Court, as interpreter of the Constitution and possessor of a broad range of competences, occupies an especially important position, acting as arbiter between the different Federal institutions as well as between the Federation and the Lander. In the field of fundamental rights the Court has achieved far-reaching constitutionalisation and juridification of the whole political system, while at the same time creating a strong and consistent system of individual freedom and the liberalisation of society.