The English Constitution
Quick Summary
Walter Bagehot's work, The English Constitution, published in 1867, examined the practical workings of the British government beyond its formal structure. Bagehot was an economist and influential journalist who edited The Economist for 17 years.1
He observed that the Cabinet, supported by a majority in the House of Commons, held significant power. While England itself does not have a single codified constitution, it is credited with the evolution of Parliament and the principles established during the Revolution of 1688, such as the rule of law and parliamentary control over taxation. Bagehot's analysis focused on how power truly operated within the British system.21
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