The English Constitution
Walter Bagehot published this study in 1867, and it remains one of the sharpest accounts of how Britain is actually governed. His central move is to separate the “dignified” parts of the constitution, the monarchy and the House of Lords that command public loyalty, from the “efficient” parts that do the real work, above all the Cabinet, which he described as a committee of the legislature chosen to rule the nation. He is skeptical, witty, and unsentimental about pomp and precedent. Written by the editor of The Economist, the book taught generations of readers to look past ceremony to where power truly sits, and it is still quoted in debates about parliamentary government. Free PDF and EPUB editions are available here.
Listen to The English Constitution Audiobook Free
Listen to The English Constitution by Walter Bagehot free online. The full audiobook (10 hr 52 min, 23 chapters, read by volunteer narrators) streams free on this page.
The English Constitution (1872) is a public domain work.
| # | Chapter | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Second Edition, part 1 | 23:55 | |
| 2 | Introduction to the Second Edition, part 2 | 28:02 | |
| 3 | Introduction to the Second Edition, part 3 | 25:35 | |
| 4 | Introduction to the Second Edition, part 4 | 36:49 | |
| 5 | The Cabinet, part 1 | 29:27 | |
| 6 | The Cabinet, part 2 | 29:50 | |
| 7 | The Monarchy, part 1 | 22:48 | |
| 8 | The Monarchy, part 2 | 20:09 | |
| 9 | The Monarchy, part 3 | 28:26 | |
| 10 | The Monarchy, part 4 | 29:40 | |
| 11 | The House of Lords, part 1 | 26:30 | |
| 12 | The House of Lords, part 2 | 23:59 | |
| 13 | The House of Lords, part 3 | 21:34 | |
| 14 | The House of Commons, part 1 | 27:55 | |
| 15 | The House of Commons, part 2 | 29:22 | |
| 16 | The House of Commons, part 3 | 27:08 | |
| 17 | On Changes of Ministry, part 1 | 27:07 | |
| 18 | On Changes of Ministry, part 2 | 21:55 | |
| 19 | On Changes of Ministry, part 3 | 27:14 | |
| 20 | Its Supposed Checks and Balances, part 1 | 37:58 | |
| 21 | Its Supposed Checks and Balances, part 2 | 36:49 | |
| 22 | The Prerequisites of Cabinet Government, and The Peculiar Form which They Have Assumed in England | 34:35 | |
| 23 | Its History, and the Effects of that History - Conclusion | 34:47 |
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