affect the distribution or the exercise of the sovereign
 power in the State.”
The chief characteristics of the English Constitution
 are that the supreme political authority
consists of a King or Queen and two Houses of
Parliament ; that the King or Queen is a particular
 member of a particular family; that the
two Houses are composed respectively of members
appointed by virtue of hereditary succession in
special families and popular election; that no
law can be enacted without the joint consent of
the King or Queen and the two Houses of Parliament;
 that the King or Queen appoints, through
the agency of Ministers directly responsible to the
two Houses of Parliament, officials engaged in
securing obedience to the laws, in collecting the
taxes, in preserving the public peace, and in
administering the Army and Navy; and lastly,
that by Trial by Jury, by the Habeas Corpus Acts,
and by special provisions for the independence of
the Judges, the people are protected against abuses
on the part of the executive. Another important
feature of the Constitution is that the imposition of
taxation is entirely controlled by the elected representative
 Chamber. While the general form and
nature of the Constitution are liable to little or no
change, there are subordinate features which, from
time to time, are subject to alterations in accordance
 with the views of public opinion. Thus, for
instance, the mode of election and representation