CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT

England and constitutional government - Written and unwritten

constitutions Powers of the Crown - Heredity - Theory

and Practice English and American institutions

Crown and the Three Estates of the Realm

CHAPTER II

PAGE

The

3

THE SUCCESSION TO THE THRONE AND THE

CORONATION

Continuity of the kingly office - The succession - Germanic

custom - Anglo-Saxon period - Norman period - Election

and heredity — The Act of Settlement — Significance of the

coronation The coronation of Queen Victoria

coronation oath - The coronation chair

CHAPTER III

THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE

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The

II

Definition of prerogative Theoretical prerogatives - Theory

and practice-Ministerial responsibility— The Crown as

the executive— The royal veto - The presence of the

Crown in Parliament - Royal messages to Parliament-

The Crown and the Foreign Secretary The Crown as

"the fountain of justice" - Pardoning power -Appointing

power - Officers of the royal household - Ladies of the

household Crown's private secretary-

Abuse of patron-

age Power of dismissal Salaries and pensions-The

Crown as Commander-in-chief of the army and navy - Power

to declare war-Treaty-making power -- The Crown as head

of the Church-The Crown as the "fountain of honour"

The sign manual - Theory and practice-Moral influence

of the Sovereign

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CHAPTER IV

THE ORIGIN AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE

CABINET

PAGE

-

- The

Importance of the Cabinet - Origin of the Cabinet
Privy Council - Early history and development of the Cabi-
net - Stages in Cabinet development.

CHAPTER V

THE COMPOSITION OF THE CABINET

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The

English and American Cabinets - The Prime Minister and First
Lord of the Treasury - Chancellor of the Exchequer
Lord High Chancellor - The Lord President of the Privy
Council - The Home Secretary - The Foreign Secretary
- The Colonial Secretary- The Secretary of State for
War The Secretary of State for India - The First Lord
of the Admiralty - Other ministers — Size of the Cabinet
- Cabinet and Ministry - The Prime Minister — Selection

of Premier Appointment of other members

either a peer or commoner

Premier

Premier usually First Lord of

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-

59

the Treasury - Premier a busy man

CHAPTER VI

THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE CABINET

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-

Members of the Cabinet in Parliament - Unanimity - Collec-
tive resignation · Subordination to a First Minister
Walpole the first Premier - Premier and Cabinet unknown
to English law

CHAPTER VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE

CABINET

Apportionment of members between the two Houses

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- Cabinet

members re-elected -- Meetings — Premier and the Crown

Residences - Pensions.

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PAGB

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CHAPTER VIII

THE CABINET'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PARLIAMENT

Censure and want of confidence

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- Defeat on

"vital questions

- Appeal to the country - General election - Formation of

new Government Resignations of Lord Salisbury and Mr.

Gladstone in 1886 The fall of the Rosebery Ministry in

1895 Voluntary dissolution - Lord Salisbury's resignation,

1892

CHAPTER IX

THE CABINET IN PARLIAMENT

The King's Speech - The Address in reply to the Speech from

the throne - Cabinet control of legislation - Leader of the

House of Lords - Leader of the House of Commons The

whippers-in Answers to questions The Opposition

The law officers - Theory versus practice

CHAPTER X

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THE ORIGIN, COMPOSITION, AND FUNCTIONS OF

THE HOUSE OF LORDS

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Its importance - Its origin — The Witan - Composition of the
House-Creation of peers - Introduction of new peers
Princes of the royal blood-Irish representative peers
Scotch representative peers - The spiritual Lords — Lords
of Appeal - Precedence - Disqualifications - Growth of the
House of Lords - The Lord Chancellor-Time of meet-
ing-Quorum Prayer - Rules of debate Privileges-

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Powers and functions - Landed influence of the peers.

CHAPTER XI

THE PROPOSED REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS

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Reform of the House of Lords a live question - History of the

opposition Reform advocated by the Lords - Theoretical

The peers and the Reform Bill of 1832- The

record since 1832-The tactics of the Lords— 66

- The Lords and the labourers

The proposed changes - Proposals of Lord Salisbury and

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Lord Rosebery - Spalding's plan Indian princes One

chamber - Defenders of the Lords-William C. Macpher-

son G. Lowes Dickinson-T. E. Kebbel

Peer"- General conclusion

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CHAPTER XII

PAGE

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"A Sussex

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THE ORIGIN, DevelopmenT, AND COMPOSITION OF

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Its importance

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Origin Simon de Montfort

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- Evolution of

the House The Reform Measure of 1832 and the “ rotten

boroughs - Defects of representative system — Results of

Reform of 1832 - The present situation — University mem-

bers American Universities and the state Contested

seats- Vacancies Disqualifications— Expulsion of mem-

bers - The franchise — Disqualifications for voting - Nomi-

nations - A general election - Women in English politics

- Oath of office

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CHAPTER XIII

THE REGULATIONS, PROCEDure, and Personnel

OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Places and seats- - Time of meeting - Quorum - Attendance

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- Payment of members - Strangers in the House- The
Speaker Parties in the House of Commons -
The per-
sonnel of the House - Strength of the Commons

Composition of Parliament-Sovereignty of Parliament-

Privileges of Parliament — Annual meetings - Obstructions

-Sunday sessions

Special services - Adjournments

Communications between the two Houses - Communica-

tions between Parliament and the Crown - Replies - Meth-

ods of procedure - The three readings of a bill - Public and

private bills-"Hybrid” bills — Practice and proceedings

Rules of debate Divisions Committees Taxation

and supply-The civil list and royal grants - Impeachment

-Trial of Warren Hastings - Petitions

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