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 xxiii
According to that theory , the two Houses are two branches of the Legislature ,
perfectly equal and perfectly distinct . But before the Act of 1832 they were not so
distinct ; there was a very large and a very strong common element . By their ...
According to that theory , the two Houses are two branches of the Legislature ,
perfectly equal and perfectly distinct . But before the Act of 1832 they were not so
distinct ; there was a very large and a very strong common element . By their ...
Page xxxix
... that the Government has already done something , and that it is for the one part
of the Legislature alone — for the House of Commons , and not for the House of
Lords — to say whether they have or have not forfeited their place by the treaty ...
... that the Government has already done something , and that it is for the one part
of the Legislature alone — for the House of Commons , and not for the House of
Lords — to say whether they have or have not forfeited their place by the treaty ...
Page xli
The majority of the Legislature being well disposed to the Government , would
not “ find ” against it except it had really committed some big and plain mistake . .
But if the Government had made such a mistake , certainly the majority of the ...
The majority of the Legislature being well disposed to the Government , would
not “ find ” against it except it had really committed some big and plain mistake . .
But if the Government had made such a mistake , certainly the majority of the ...
Page lvii
Nothing could be so conclusive against the American Constitution , as a
Constitution , as that incident . A hostile legislature and a hostile executive were
so tied together , that the legislature tried INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND
EDITION . lvii.
Nothing could be so conclusive against the American Constitution , as a
Constitution , as that incident . A hostile legislature and a hostile executive were
so tied together , that the legislature tried INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND
EDITION . lvii.
Page lviii
executive were so tied together , that the legislature tried , and tried in vain , to rid
itself of the executive by accusing it of illegal practices . The legislature was so
afraid of the President ' s legal power , that it unfairly accused him of acting ...
executive were so tied together , that the legislature tried , and tried in vain , to rid
itself of the executive by accusing it of illegal practices . The legislature was so
afraid of the President ' s legal power , that it unfairly accused him of acting ...
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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".
Page 291 - CHANGE OF AIR AND SCENE. A Physician's Hints about Doctors, Patients, Hygiene, and Society ; with Notes of Excursions for health in the Pyrenees, and amongst the Watering-places of France (Inland and Seaward), Switzerland, Corsica, and the Mediterranean. By Dr.
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.
Page 293 - YOUMANS (Eliza A.). An Essay on the Culture of the Observing Powers of Children, especially in connection with the Study of Botany. Edited, with Notes and a Supplement, by Joseph Payne, FCP, Author of " Lectures on the Science and Art of Education,
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 |