The English Constitution

The English Constitution

Title page of the first edition
Author	Walter Bagehot (3 February 1826 – 24 March 1877)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Publisher	Chapman & Hall
Publication date	1867
Pages	348
OCLC	60724184

The English Constitution is a book by Walter Bagehot. First serialised in The Fortnightly Review between 15 May 1865 and 1 January 1867, and later published in book form in the latter year. It explores the constitution of the United Kingdom, specifically the functioning of Parliament and the British monarchy, and the contrasts between British and American government. The book became a standard work which was translated into several languages.

While Walter Bagehot's references to the Parliament of the United Kingdom have become dated, his observations on the monarchy are seen as central to the understanding of the principles of constitutional monarchy. He defined the rights and role of a monarch vis-à-vis a government as threefold:

He also divided the constitution into two components: the "dignified" (that part which is symbolic) and the "efficient" (the way things actually work and get done).

Bagehot also praised "cabinet government" (in the Westminster system of government). At the same time, he mocked the American system for numerous flaws and absurdities he perceived, and its comparative lack of flexibility and accountability. In his words, "Cabinet governments educate the nation; the presidential does not educate it, and may corrupt it."

He praised Parliament as a place of "real" debate, considering debates in the United States Congress to be "prologues without a play". Bagehot said the difference in the substance of debate was due to debate in Parliament having the potential to turn out a government, while "debates" in the United States Congress have no such potential import.