Notes on the Science of Government; And the Relations of the States to the United States

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913. Excerpt: ... liament, --chiefly through its long established power to vote or withhold supplies, --so that now, through the House of Commons, the wishes of the English people, not those of their titular rulers, have become the dominant influence in the government.16 The advantages of the principle of popular representation in the legislative department of government have come to be universally recognized. One by one the nations of the world have adopted it, until now many even of the Oriental nations, --those last bulwarks of absolutism, --are beginning to demand forms of representative government. No plan has yet been devised that renders government so amenable to the will of the people and so free from the usurpations of power. It is in full accord with that primary principle of good government, already alluded to,17 that the interest of those intrusted with the administration of government must be made to coincide with the interests of society itself. 35. III. Frequent Elections of Representatives. Intimately connected with the principle of representation, the but little less important principle of frequency of elections is to be noted as a check upon the powers of government. Though the principle of representation be adopted in the constitution of a state, it is evident that if the representatives are chosen for life or even for a long term of years, their sense of responsibility to their constituents, the people, and their desire or ability to voice the latter's opinions and wishes, are seriously impaired. It is therefore quite generally recognized as a principle of good government that representatives of the people should be required at frequent intervals to return to the body of the people whence they came, as private persons, depending for their return to o...