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The Growth of English Representative Government
The Growth of English Representative Government Author:George L. Haskins The chronic dissatisfaction with representative institutions makes the chronicle of the development of the English parliament from its beginnings in the thirteenth century to the outbreak of the civil wars in the seventeenth century a most timely work for every student of history and government. — This book is primarily interested in singling out... more » the persistent currents in English society and government in order to show why the representative feature of parliament became its signficant feature. It emphasizes the influence of the Catholic Church, the importance of compulsory self-government, and the signficance of judicial procedure in the evolution of parliament.
In continental Europe, the last three decades have witnessed the repudiation of representative institutions in several countries. Elsewhere, particuarly in England and the United States, there has been a growing conviction that the parliamentary system is not suited to present world conditions. To many, as they look into the shadow of tomorrow, the vital question -- brought to a sharp focus in this book -- is whether representative institutions can be adapted to the needs of this turbulent century.« less