English Constitution
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Walter Bagehot's The English Constitution (1867) is the best account of the history and workings of the British political system ever written. As arguments raged in mid-Victorian Britain about giving the working man the vote, and democracies overseas were pitched into despotism and civil war, Bagehot took a long, cool look at the "dignified" and "efficient" elements which made the English system the envy of the world. His analysis of the monarchy, the role of the prime minister and cabinet, and comparisons with the American presidential system are astute and timeless, pertinent to current discussions surrounding devolution and electoral reform. Combining the wit and panache of a journalist with the wisdom of a man of letters steeped in evolutionary ideas and historical knowledge, Bagehot produced a book which is always thoughtful, often funny, and surprisingly entertaining.This edition reproduces Bagehot's original 1867 work in full, and introduces the reader to the dramatic political events that surrounded its publication.
IntroductionThe English Constitution1IThe Cabinet3IIThe Monarchy21IIIThe House of Lords50IVThe House of Commons71VOn Changes of Ministry97VIIts Supposed Checks and Balances110VIIThe Prerequisites of Cabinet Government139VIIIIts History, and Effects - Conclusion149Introduction to the Second Edition, 1872160Further Reading List193Index195
