The English ConstitutionA classic study of the British constitution, paying special attention to how Parliament and the monarchy work. The author frequently draws comparisons with the American Constitution, being generally critical of the American system of government. |
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Page xxxvi
... whether land or sea , leave us defenceless against foreign nations . Why do we
not fear that she would do this , or any approach to it ? Because there are two
checks — one ancient and coarse , the other modern and delicate . The first is the
...
... whether land or sea , leave us defenceless against foreign nations . Why do we
not fear that she would do this , or any approach to it ? Because there are two
checks — one ancient and coarse , the other modern and delicate . The first is the
...
Page xxxviii
The support of the Lords is an aid and a luxury ; that of the Commons is a strict
and indispensable necessary . These difficulties are particularly raised by
questions of foreign policy . On most domestic subjects , either custom or
legislation have ...
The support of the Lords is an aid and a luxury ; that of the Commons is a strict
and indispensable necessary . These difficulties are particularly raised by
questions of foreign policy . On most domestic subjects , either custom or
legislation have ...
Page xxxix
Most political crises — the decisive votes , which determine the fate of
Governmentare generally either on questions of foreign policy or of new laws ;
and the questions of foreign policy come out generally in this way , that the
Government has ...
Most political crises — the decisive votes , which determine the fate of
Governmentare generally either on questions of foreign policy or of new laws ;
and the questions of foreign policy come out generally in this way , that the
Government has ...
Page xl
Now , beforehand , no one would have ventured to suggest that a committee of
Parliament on Foreign relations should be able to commit the country to the
greatest international obligations without consulting either Parliament or the
country .
Now , beforehand , no one would have ventured to suggest that a committee of
Parliament on Foreign relations should be able to commit the country to the
greatest international obligations without consulting either Parliament or the
country .
Page xli
And an English minority , inheriting a long experience of Parliamentary affairs ,
would not be exceedingly ready to reject a treaty made with a foreign
Government . The leaders of an English Opposition are very conversant with the
schoolboy ...
And an English minority , inheriting a long experience of Parliamentary affairs ,
would not be exceedingly ready to reject a treaty made with a foreign
Government . The leaders of an English Opposition are very conversant with the
schoolboy ...
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User Review - patito-de-hule - LibraryThingWalter Bagehot was editor of the Economist and his name is still on the weekly page about England. This book describes the English Constitution and compares it favorably with the United States Constitution. Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
able action administration American arguments assembly authority believe better body cabinet cabinet government chamber choose constitution course critical Crown defect difficulty discussion educated effect election England English equal executive existence experience fact feeling force foreign function George give greatest head House of Commons House of Lords ideas important influence interest keep king leader least legislation legislature less live look majority matter means ment mind minister ministry monarch nation nature never object once opinion opposition Parliament parliamentary government party peers perhaps persons political popular possible present President principle probably Queen questions reason representatives respect result rule society sort sovereign speak statesmen sure theory things thought tion true vote whole wish
Popular passages
Page 72 - Having once given her sanction to a measure, that it be not arbitrarily altered or modified by the Minister; such an act she must consider as failing in sincerity towards the Crown, and justly to be visited by the exercise of her Constitutional right of dismissing that Minister.
Page 73 - To state the matter shortly, the sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy such as ours, three rights — the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn. And a king of great sense and sagacity would want no others.
Page 14 - hyphen which joins, a buckle which fastens the legislative part of the State to the executive part".
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Page 10 - The efficient secret of the English Constitution may be described as the close union, the nearly complete fusion, of the executive and legislative powers.
Page 293 - FIRST BOOK OF BOTANY. Designed to Cultivate the Observing Powers of Children. With 300 Engravings, New and Cheaper Edition. Crown 8vo.
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Page 292 - BRIEFS AND PAPERS. Being Sketches of the Bar and the Press. By Two Idle Apprentices. Crown 8vo. 7^. 6d. " Written with spirit and knowledge, and give some curious glimpses into what the majority will regard as strange and unknown territories." — Daily News. " This is one of the best books to while away an hour and cause a generous laugh that we have come across for a long time.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The English Constitution The Making of the Modern Law |
| Author | Walter Bagehot |
| Edition | 2, reprint |
| Publisher | H. S. King & Company, 1872 |
| Original from | Harvard University |
| Digitized | 13 Mar 2008 |
| Length | 291 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |