The ninth edition of the book entitled Procedure and practice of the Assembly was published in 1990. Since then, significant political changes in Europe have also had an impact on the functioning of the Parliamentary Assembly. This new edition emphasises the practical way in which the Assembly operates and describes its political and institutional context. It will be of use both to the members of the Assembly and a wider audience: members and staff of national parliaments, representatives of civil society, and all those who wish to know more about the driving force of the Council of Europe. The 636 parliamentarians making up the Assembly come from the national parliaments of the 47 Council of Europe member states. They meet four times a year to discuss current affairs and ask European governments to take initiatives and report back. These parliamentarians speak on behalf of the 800 million Europeans who elected them. They are the democratic conscience of Europe.