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 vi
Roughly speaking , it describes its working as it was in the time of Lord
Palmerston ; and since that time there have been many changes , some of spirit
and some of detail . In so short a period there have rarely been more changes . If
I had ...
Roughly speaking , it describes its working as it was in the time of Lord
Palmerston ; and since that time there have been many changes , some of spirit
and some of detail . In so short a period there have rarely been more changes . If
I had ...
Page vii
I proceed to speak of the changes which have taken place either in the
Constitution itself or in the competing institutions which illustrate it . It is too soon
as yet to attempt to estimate the effect of the Reform Act of 1867 . The people
enfranchised ...
I proceed to speak of the changes which have taken place either in the
Constitution itself or in the competing institutions which illustrate it . It is too soon
as yet to attempt to estimate the effect of the Reform Act of 1867 . The people
enfranchised ...
Page xv
But in this case neither party , as a party , could speak out . Many , perhaps most
of the intelligent Conservatives , were fearful of the consequences of the proposal
; but as it was made by the heads of their own party , they did not like to oppose ...
But in this case neither party , as a party , could speak out . Many , perhaps most
of the intelligent Conservatives , were fearful of the consequences of the proposal
; but as it was made by the heads of their own party , they did not like to oppose ...
Page xxxiii
But in politics we must not trouble ourselves with exceedingly exceptional
accidents : it is quite difficult enough to count on and provide for the regular and
plain probabilities . To speak mathematically , we may easily miss the permanent
...
But in politics we must not trouble ourselves with exceedingly exceptional
accidents : it is quite difficult enough to count on and provide for the regular and
plain probabilities . To speak mathematically , we may easily miss the permanent
...
Page xlvii
The worst families are those in which the members never really speak their minds
to one another ; they maintain an atmosphere of unreality , and everyone always
lives in an atmosphere of suppressed ill - feeling . It is the same with nations .
The worst families are those in which the members never really speak their minds
to one another ; they maintain an atmosphere of unreality , and everyone always
lives in an atmosphere of suppressed ill - feeling . It is the same with nations .
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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 |