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 xxxii
... them or for the country , and the Lords have only to go back to the good path in
which he directed them . The events of 1870 caused much discussion upon life
peerages , and we have gained this great step , that whereas the former leader of
...
... them or for the country , and the Lords have only to go back to the good path in
which he directed them . The events of 1870 caused much discussion upon life
peerages , and we have gained this great step , that whereas the former leader of
...
Page xli
No English majority dare vote for an exceedingly bad treaty ; it would rather
desert its own leader than ensure its own ruin . And an English minority ,
inheriting a long experience of Parliamentary affairs , would not be exceedingly
ready to ...
No English majority dare vote for an exceedingly bad treaty ; it would rather
desert its own leader than ensure its own ruin . And an English minority ,
inheriting a long experience of Parliamentary affairs , would not be exceedingly
ready to ...
Page xlii
the leaders of the Opposition - were in constant tacit league to suppress the
objections of independent members . And what he said is often quite true . There
are often seeming objections which are not real objections , at least , which are ,
in ...
the leaders of the Opposition - were in constant tacit league to suppress the
objections of independent members . And what he said is often quite true . There
are often seeming objections which are not real objections , at least , which are ,
in ...
Page xliii
And this is very often the view taken now in England of treaties . There being
nothing practical in the Opposition — nothing likely to hamper them hereafter ,
the leaders of Opposition are nearly sure to suggest every objection . The thing is
done ...
And this is very often the view taken now in England of treaties . There being
nothing practical in the Opposition — nothing likely to hamper them hereafter ,
the leaders of Opposition are nearly sure to suggest every objection . The thing is
done ...
Page xlviii
In the House of Commons , of necessity , the Ministry has a majority , and the
majority will agree to the treaties the leaders have made if they fairly can . They
will not be anxious to disagree with them . But the majority of the House of Lords
may ...
In the House of Commons , of necessity , the Ministry has a majority , and the
majority will agree to the treaties the leaders have made if they fairly can . They
will not be anxious to disagree with them . But the majority of the House of Lords
may ...
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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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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 |