The English Constitution · Theme
Comparative Political Systems
How The English Constitution develops Comparative Political Systems.
The work extensively compares the English Constitution with the American presidential system and the French parliamentary republic, using these contrasts to highlight the unique strengths and weaknesses of the English model.
Where it surfaces
- Introduction to the Second Edition
The introduction extensively compares the English cabinet system with the American presidential system, highlighting their respective advantages and vulnerabilities.
- II
Bagehot compares the American presidential system with the English parliamentary system, highlighting the dangers of a divided executive and legislature.
- The English Constitution
The chapter sets up a comparative framework, contrasting the English system with others, particularly the American and French systems.
- I: The Cabinet
The chapter extensively compares Cabinet (Parliamentary) government with Presidential government, highlighting the advantages of the former in flexibility, statesmanship, and crisis management, and the weaknesses of the latter in rigidity and divided power.
- II: The Monarchy
Bagehot contrasts the English constitutional monarchy with a hypothetical unroyal system and with ancient Greek political forms, as described by Mr. Grote.
- II
Draws a detailed comparison between the existing British system with a monarch and a hypothetical system where the House of Commons directly elects the Premier, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
- The House of Lords
Compares the British system with the American and Swiss Constitutions, noting the danger of coequal upper houses and the British solution of Crown-created peers to resolve deadlock.
- On Changes of Ministry
The chapter systematically compares parliamentary, presidential, hereditary, and dictatorial forms of government, highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses.
- Its Supposed Checks and Balances
The chapter extensively compares the English Constitution's single sovereignty with the American system of divided powers, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each.
- VII: Its History, and the Effects of That History—Conclusion
The chapter contrasts English political culture with that of the United States, France, and Switzerland, particularly regarding attitudes toward executive power and local governance.
- Endnotes
References to the Confederate government and the U.S. vice-presidency highlight contrasts between British and American systems.
