The Constitution of England

Contents

5 contents1 Introduction 19 [[BOOK I.]] Chap. I. Causes of the Liberty of the English Nation. —Reasons of the difference between the Government of France, and that of England. In England, the great power of the Crown, especially under the first Norman Kings, created an Union between the Nobility and the People 23 Chap. II. A second Advantage England had over France: —it formed one undivided State 34 Chap. III. The Subject continued 44 Chap. IV. Of the Legislative Power 55 Chap. V. Of the Executive Power 62 Chap. VI. The Boundaries which the Constitution has set to the Royal Prerogative 64 Chap. VII. The same subject continued 67 Chap. VIII. New Restrictions 71 Chap. IX. Of private Liberty, or the Liberty of Individuals 80 Chap. X. On the Law in regard to Civil Matters, that is observed in England 89 Chap. XI. The Subject continued. The Courts of Equity 104 1. The page numbers in the Contents are those of the Liberty Fund edition. 6 original contents Chap. XII. Of Criminal Justice 115 Chap. XIII. The Subject continued 123 Chap. XIV. The Subject concluded—Laws relative to Imprisonments 135 BOOK II. Chap. I. Some Advantages peculiar to the English Constitution. 1. The Unity of the Executive Power 139 Chap. II. The Subject concluded.—The Executive Power is more easily confined when it is one 150 Chap. III. A second Peculiarity.—The Division of the Legislative Power 153 Chap. IV. A third Advantage peculiar to the English Government. The Business of proposing Laws, lodged in the Hands of the People 160 Chap. V. In which an Inquiry is made, whether it would be an Advantage to public Liberty that the Laws should be enacted by the Votes of the People at large 167 Chap. VI. Advantages that accrue to the People from appointing Representatives 176 Chap. VII. The Subject continued—The Advantages that accrue to the People from their appointing Representatives, are very inconsiderable, unless they also entirely trust their Legislative Authority to them 178 Chap. VIII. The Subject concluded—Effects that have resulted in the English Government, from the People’s Power being completely delegated to their Representatives 182 Chap. IX. A farther Disadvantage of Republican Governments.—The People are necessarily betrayed by those in whom they trust 186 Chap. X. Fundamental difference between the English original contents 7 Government and the Governments just described.—In England all Executive Authority is placed out of the hands of those in whom the People trust.—Usefulness of the Power of the Crown 192 Chap. XI. The Powers which the People themselves exercise.—The Election of Members of Parliament 197 Chap. XII. The Subject continued.—Liberty of the Press 199 Chap. XIII. The Subject continued 208 Chap. XIV. Right of Resistance 214 Chap. XV. Proofs drawn from Facts of the Truth of the Principles laid down in this Work.—1. The peculiar Manner in which Revolutions have always been concluded in England 220 Chap. XVI. Second Difference.—The Manner after which the Laws for the Liberty of the Subject are executed in England 231 Chap. XVII. A more inward View of the English Government than has hitherto been offered to the Reader in the course of this Work.—Very essential differences between the English Monarchy, as a Monarchy, and all those with which we are acquainted 256 Chap. XVIII. How far the examples of Nations that have lost their liberty, are applicable to England 304 Chap. XIX. A few thoughts on the attempts that at particular times may be made to abridge the power of the Crown, and on some of the dangers by which such attempts may be attended 319 Chap. XX. A few additional Thoughts on the right of Taxation, lodged in the Hands of the Representatives of the People.—What kind of danger this Right may be exposed to 327 Chap. XXI. Conclusion.—A few Words on the Nature of the Divisions that take Place in England 336 ...