LECTURE Ⅰ. INTRODUCTORY. 1
Discovery of America and contemporaneous events— Common origin of the British and American people and their institutions—Primitive character of the colonists and their final separation from the mother country—important differences in the condition of the two nations—The American constitution was planned by Congress, is a legislative experiment, and is not a precedent to be followed by this country 1
LECTURE Ⅱ. PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS—OUTLINE OF AMERICAN CONSTITUTION. 28
Close resemblance between the municipal and provincial institutions of England and America—Outline of the American constitution—The federal government of the United States—If at the aera of the French Revo- lution and of the new constitution of America, Great Britain had been a republic, could she have preserved her freedom? 28
LECTURE Ⅲ.ELECTIVE FRANCHISE—LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES. 44
Instability of Laws in America—Equality—The Ballot— Universal suffrage—Pledged delegates and free repre- sentatives—House of Representatives— House of Commons—Senate—House of Lords 44
LECTURE Ⅳ.THE EXECUTIVE POWER. 90
The President of the United States—The British Sove- reign—Their ministers—Elections —Elective and hereditary monarchy—The veto—Mutual relations of the executive and the legislature in both countries —How far these have been affected in England by the Reform bill—Opinions of American statesmen respecting the British constitution 90
LECTURE Ⅴ.LAW—RELIGION. 123
Judicial institutions of England adopted by the Ameri- cans—Juries—Independence of judges--The supreme court of the United States—Can the religious instruc- tion of a country be adequately provided for without an established church ?—Illustrations from England and America 123
LECTURE Ⅵ.SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.The will of the majority—The periodical press—Man- ners—Liberty—Slavery 144
ADDITIONAL NOTES 191