The American Commonwealth -First published in 1888, The American Commonwealth was an instant classic, a three-volume set discussing the political structure of American society, its legal system, and its people with an analysis that is both broad and in-depth. Volume I covers the Constitution and the American political system. It discusses the structure of American government and the ways in which the living American government as an entity responds to crisis. The possibilities and power struggles inherent in the American system of government are examined and documented with a fair hand. Bryce goes into further detail about state constitutions and the differing legal structures that exist on a more local level. Anyone with an interest in politics or American history will find Bryce's commentary penetratingly insightful. British historian VISCOUNT JAMES BRYCE (1838-1922) attended the University of Glasgow and Trinity College, Oxford. He is best known for his scholarship of the Holy Roman Empire. His popular works include Studies in History and Jurisprudence (1901) and Studies in Contemporary Biography (1903). |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 77
Page 19
... appointed by the " Proprietor . " 2 There had been a congress of delegates from seven colonies at Albany in 1754 to deliberate on measures relative to the impending war with France , but this , of course , took place with the sanction ...
... appointed by the " Proprietor . " 2 There had been a congress of delegates from seven colonies at Albany in 1754 to deliberate on measures relative to the impending war with France , but this , of course , took place with the sanction ...
Page 35
... appointed for life , and irremovable save by impeachment.1 In these great matters , however , as well as in many lesser matters , they copied not so much the Constitution of England as the Constitutions of ' their several States , in ...
... appointed for life , and irremovable save by impeachment.1 In these great matters , however , as well as in many lesser matters , they copied not so much the Constitution of England as the Constitutions of ' their several States , in ...
Page 39
... appointed for good behav- iour , i.e. for life , subject to removal by impeachment . The idea was disapproved , though it received the support of persons so democratically - minded as Madison and Edmund Randolph ; but nearly all ...
... appointed for good behav- iour , i.e. for life , subject to removal by impeachment . The idea was disapproved , though it received the support of persons so democratically - minded as Madison and Edmund Randolph ; but nearly all ...
Page 46
... appointed . " If no such majority is obtained by any candi- date , ie . if the votes of the electors are so scattered among different candidates , that out of the total number ( which in 1888 was 401 , and is now under the Apportionment ...
... appointed . " If no such majority is obtained by any candi- date , ie . if the votes of the electors are so scattered among different candidates , that out of the total number ( which in 1888 was 401 , and is now under the Apportionment ...
Page 49
... appointed three Republicans and two Democrats . The House of Representatives appointed three Democrats and two Republicans . So far there was an exact balance . The statute had indicated four of the Justices who were to sit , two ...
... appointed three Republicans and two Democrats . The House of Representatives appointed three Democrats and two Republicans . So far there was an exact balance . The statute had indicated four of the Justices who were to sit , two ...
Contents
GROWth and DeveLOPMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION | 359 |
THE AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION | 364 |
THE INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION | 372 |
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION BY USAGE | 391 |
THE RESULTS OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 400 |
THE STATE GOVERNMENTS | 409 |
NATURE OF THE AMERICAN STATE | 411 |
STATE CONSTITUTIONS | 427 |
78 | |
86 | |
97 | |
106 | |
111 | |
124 | |
THE HOUSE AT WORK | 142 |
THE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS | 154 |
CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION | 165 |
CONGRESSIONAL FINANCE | 174 |
THE RELATIONS OF THE TWO HOUSES | 183 |
CHAP PAGE XIX GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON CONGRESS | 189 |
THE RELATIONS OF CONGRESS TO THE PRESIDENT | 208 |
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE | 215 |
THE FEDERAL COURTS | 228 |
THE COURTS AND THE CONSTITUTION | 241 |
THE WORKING OF THE COURTS | 261 |
COMPARISON OF THE AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SYSTEMS | 277 |
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE FRAME OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT | 298 |
THE FEDERAL SYSTEM | 312 |
Working RelaTIONS OF THE NATIONAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENTS | 325 |
CRITICISM OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM | 342 |
MERITS OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM | 350 |
THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE CONSTITUTIONS | 450 |
DIRECT LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE | 463 |
STATE LEGISLATURES | 477 |
THE STATE EXECUTIVE | 494 |
THE STATE JUDICIARY | 501 |
STATE FINANCE | 512 |
THE WORKING OF STATE GOVERNMENTS | 528 |
XLV REMEDIES FOR THE FAULTS OF STATE GOVERNMENTS | 549 |
STATE POLITICS | 565 |
THE TERRITORIES | 578 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 589 |
OBSERVATIONS ON RURAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 611 |
THE GOVERNMENT OF CITIES | 622 |
THE WORKING OF CITY GOVERNMENTS | 635 |
AN AMERICAN VIEW OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES | 650 |
ON CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS | 667 |
EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES OF THE SENATE | 673 |
THE FEDERAL SYSTEM OF THE ENGLISH UNIVERSITIES | 682 |
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 178188 | 690 |
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES | 697 |
EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALI | 711 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
administration amendment American appointed Articles of Confederation assembly authority bills body British British Parliament cabinet called candidate CHAPTER chosen citizens civil colonies committee Congress Connecticut Convention corporation council course Crown debate debt decision declared deemed democratic departments district duty election electors enacted England English European executive exist Federal Constitution Federal courts functions governor grant House of Commons House of Lords House of Representatives impeachment influence instance interest judges judicial lature legis legislation legislature less majority Massachusetts matter mayor ment method ministers municipal National government North Dakota opinion Parliament party passed Pennsylvania persons political population practice present President private bills provisions purposes question Republican respect Rhode Island secure Senate session sometimes South Carolina square miles statute Supreme court taxation Territories tion town township Union United usually veto voters whole York
Popular passages
Page 696 - The committee of the states, or any nine of them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of Congress, such of the powers of Congress» as the United States in Congress assembled, by the consent of nine states, shall from time to time think expedient to vest them with...
Page 693 - ... the United States, in Congress assembled, shall, from time to time, direct and appoint. The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the Legislatures of the several States, within the time agreed upon by the United States, in Congress assembled.
Page 693 - Congress assembled, and then only against the kingdom or state, and the subjects thereof, against which war has been so declared, and under such regulations as shall be established by the United States in Congress assembled, unless such State be infested by pirates, in which case vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept so long as the danger shall continue, or until the United States in Congress assembled shall determine otherwise.
Page 699 - The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators.
Page 696 - ... United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which, by this Confederation, are submitted to them. And the Articles of this Confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State ; and the Union shall be perpetual. Nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them, unless such alteration be agreed to, in a Congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State.
Page 246 - The powers of the legislature are defined and limited, and that those limits may not be mistaken or forgotten the Constitution is written. To what purpose are powers limited, and to what purpose is that limitation committed to writing, if these limits may at any time be passed by those intended to be restrained...
Page 693 - All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states, in proportion to the value of all land within each state...