This book explains the
following topics: Constitutional Texts: US, Canada, South Africa, The Adoption of
the U.S. Constitution, The Bank of the United States and the Powers of the
Federal Government, The Role of the Federal Courts in the Constitutional
Framework, Separation of Powers: The Allocation of Powers within the Federal
Government, Federalism: The Allocation of Powers between the Federal and State
Governments, Federalism: Constitutional Limits on State Powers.
This
note covers fundamentals of Indian Constitution with special reference to
Parliamentary and Presidential form of Government, Executive responsibility to
Legislature vis a vis legislative control over executive, Control through
deliberation and discussion, Control through various Parliamentary devices,
Financial accountability or Control on Public finance by legislature,
Legislature committee system, Law making process and parliamentary privileges.
The PDF covers the following
topics related to Constitutional Law : Introduction, Citizenship, Fundamental
Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles, Union Executive : Legislature
and Judiciary, State Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
The book became a standard work which
was translated into several languages. Bagehot began his book by saying, do not be fooled by constitutional theories and formal institutional
continuities– concentrate instead on the real centers of power and the practical
working of the political system. He dismissed the two theories of the division
of powers and of checks and balances as erroneous.