His thanks are especially due to Professor A. V. Dicey, Sir Courtenay Ilbert, Professor H. Morse Stephens, now of the University of California, and Professor W. B. Munro of Harvard University, who, besides giving him information, have kindly read a part of the manuscript or proof sheets and made many valuable suggestions. Above all he feels the deepest gratitude to Rt. Hon. James Bryce, now happily British ambassador to the United States, the master and guide of all students of modern political systems, whose unwearied assistance, counsel and encouragement have been a constant help throughout the preparation of this work, and who has read the whole of the proof sheets except the chapters that deal with the Empire. These friends have made the writing of the book possible, and saved the author from many blunders. It is needless to say that none of them are in any way responsible for any opinions in these pages; and in fact the writer has tried not to express, and so far as possible not to form, opinions on matters of current party politics. The writer is indebted also to a number of his students at Harvard, who have made researches in several different subjects. While some of the more important of these contributions have been referred to in the notes, it has been impossible to do this in all cases. Finally he desires to acknowledge the help he has received in his investigations from three assistants: Mr. Emerson David Fite, now of Yale University, Mr. Robert Lee Hale, now of the Harvard Law School, and Mr. Thomas N. Hoover of the Harvard Graduate School, the last of these having also verified the citations and prepared the index. APRIL, 1908. TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME I PAGE INTRODUCTORY NOTE ON THE CONSTITUTION 1 PART I.--THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CHAPTER I THE CROWN 16 CHAPTER II THE CROWN AND THE CABINET 27 CHAPTER III THE CABINET AND THE MINISTERS 53 CHAPTER IV THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS 81 CHAPTER V THE TREASURY 115 CHAPTER VI MISCELLANEOUS OFFICES 131 CHAPTER VII THE PERMANENT CIVIL SERVICE 145 CHAPTER VIII THE MINISTERS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE 173 CHAPTER IX THE HOUSE OF COMMONS--CONSTITUENCIES AND VOTERS 195 CHAPTER X THE HOUSE OF COMMONS--ELECTORAL PROCEDURE 219 CHAPTER XI THE HOUSE OF COMMONS--DISQUALIFICATIONS, PRIVILEGE, SESSIONS 239 CHAPTER XII PROCEDURE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS--THE HOUSE, ITS RULES AND OFFICERS 248 CHAPTER XIII