Walter Bagehot

Walter Bagehot (February 3, 1826 ? March 24, 1877), pronounced ?Bajut? , was a nineteenth century British writer and an early editor of The Economist newsmagazine.

He was born in Langport, Somerset. He attended University College London, where he earned a master's degree in 1848.

In 1867, he wrote a book called The English Constitution which explored the constitution of the United Kingdom, specifically the functioning of parliament and the monarchy and the contrasts between British and American government.

While Bagehot's references to parliament have 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-a-vis a government as three-fold:

• The right to be consulted;
• The right to advise;
• The right to warn.

Generations of British monarchs and heirs apparent and presumptive have studied Bagehot's analysis.

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).

Walter Bagehot also praised what we now refer to as a "parliamentary system." (Bagehot used the term "cabinet government") Bagehot criticized the American government for its comparative lack of flexibility and its lack of accountability. Bagehot even said that a parliamentary system educates the public, while a [[presidential system corrupts it."

Bagehot's influence over The Economist is reflected by the fact the opinion column in the newspaper for British issues continues to bear his name.

Quotations

Under a cabinet constitution at a sudden emergency this people can choose a ruler for the occasion. It is quite possible and even likely that he would not be ruler before the occassion. The great qualities, the imperious will, the rapid energy, the eager nature fit for a great crisis are not required - are impediments- in common times. A Lord Liverpool is better in everyday politics than a Chatham- a Louis Philippe far better than a Napoleon. By the structure of the world we want, at the sudden occurrence of a grave tempest, to change the helmsman - to replace the pilot of the calm by the pilot of the storm.

But under a presidential government you can do nothing of the kind. The American government calls itself a government of the supreme people; but at a quick crisis, the time when a sovereign power is most needed, you cannot find the supreme people. You have got a congress elected for one fixed period, going out perhaps by fixed installments, which cannot be accelerated or retarded - you have a president chosen for a fixed period, and immovable during that period: . . there is no elastic element. . . you have bespoken your government in advance, and whether it is what you want or not, by law you must keep it . .

"the executive is crippled by not getting the law it needs, and the legislature is spoiled by having to act without responsibility: the executive becomes unfit for its name, since it cannot execute what it decides on; the legislature is demoralized by liberty, by taking decisions of others [and not itself] will suffer the effects."