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 xiii
We used to frame elaborate schemes to give them such means . But the Reform
Act of 1867 did not stop at skilled labour ; it enfranchised unskilled labour too .
And no one will contend that the ordinary working - man who has no special skill
...
We used to frame elaborate schemes to give them such means . But the Reform
Act of 1867 did not stop at skilled labour ; it enfranchised unskilled labour too .
And no one will contend that the ordinary working - man who has no special skill
...
Page xviii
... comfortable — that it is the present law which makes them uncomfortable —
that Government has at its disposal an inexhaustible fund out of which it can give
to those who now want without also creating elsewhere other and greater wants .
... comfortable — that it is the present law which makes them uncomfortable —
that Government has at its disposal an inexhaustible fund out of which it can give
to those who now want without also creating elsewhere other and greater wants .
Page xix
And they are right in detesting it ; if a man cannot give guidance and
communicate instruction formally without telling his audience “ I am better than a
2 you ; I have studied this as you have not INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND
EDITION . xix.
And they are right in detesting it ; if a man cannot give guidance and
communicate instruction formally without telling his audience “ I am better than a
2 you ; I have studied this as you have not INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND
EDITION . xix.
Page xx
What is mostly needed is the manly utterance of clear conclusions ; if a statesman
gives these in a felicitous way ( and if with a few light and humorous illustrations
so much the better ) , he has done his part . He will have given the text , the ...
What is mostly needed is the manly utterance of clear conclusions ; if a statesman
gives these in a felicitous way ( and if with a few light and humorous illustrations
so much the better ) , he has done his part . He will have given the text , the ...
Page xxi
promise to do as he likes if he will only tell them what it is ; that , as he now holds
the casting vote in our affairs , both parties will beg and pray him to give that vote
to them . I can conceive of nothing more corrupting or worse for a set of poor ...
promise to do as he likes if he will only tell them what it is ; that , as he now holds
the casting vote in our affairs , both parties will beg and pray him to give that vote
to them . I can conceive of nothing more corrupting or worse for a set of poor ...
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LibraryThing Review
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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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 |