The Ideas That Formed the Constitution, Part 21: Coke, Blackstone, and English Law
Commentary
British institutions were important (although not controlling) models for the American Constitution-makers.
For example, the Constitution’s bicameral federal Congress had some similarities with the British Parliament. The Constitution built on the British concept of individual rights. The new U.S. postal system was a continuation of its British predecessor, with the Constitution borrowing its “Post Office and Post Roads” language (Article I, Section 8, Clause 7) from a 1767 parliamentary statute.
Further, the Constitution struck a balance of power between the federal government and the states similar to the balance existing prior to 1764 between the imperial government in London and the American colonies. To be sure, the Constitution did grant taxing authority to the new federal Congress although Americans had refused to concede such authority to Parliament (because they were unrepresented)….