State Government in the United States |
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action administrative adopted American appointed approval authority ballot bills body campaign candidates cent citizens commission committee committeemen Congress constitutional amendments constitutional convention corrupt council delegates Democratic departments direct popular direct primary districts division of powers doctrine effect electoral districts electorate enactment enforcement equal established executive exercise existing Federal Constitution form of government franchise governor important initiative interest judges judicial review judicial veto judiciary jury lative lature legis legislative powers legislature less liberty limitations major parties Massachusetts Massachusetts constitution matters means measures ment negro nominations officers optional referendum ordinary Oregon original partisan party organization Pennsylvania political party polls popular election practice primary elections principle procedure proportional representation proposed public opinion purpose question reform regulation representative republican respect Rhode Island rule senate South Carolina statutes submitted suffrage Supreme Court tion tive Union United vote voters women York
Popular passages
Page 23 - They meant to set up a standard maxim for free society, which should be familiar to all, and revered by all; constantly looked to, constantly labored for, and even though never perfectly attained, constantly approximated, and thereby constantly spreading and deepening its influence, and augmenting the happiness and value of life to all people of all colors everywhere.
Page 369 - is decided upon an economic theory which a large part of the country does not entertain. If it were a question whether I agreed with that theory, I should desire to study it further and long before making up my mind. But I do not conceive that to be my duty, because I strongly believe that my agreement or disagreement has nothing to do with the right of a majority to embody their opinions in law. . . . The fourteenth amendment does not enact Mr. Herbert Spencer's Social Statics.
Page 480 - Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them, like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment.
Page 32 - Government is instituted for the common good, for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people and not for the profit, honor or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men...
Page 23 - This they said, and this they meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth, that• all were then actually enjoying that equality, nor yet that they were about to confer it immediately upon them. In fact, they had no power to confer such a boon. They meant simply to declare the right, so that the enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit.
Page 30 - The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good.
Page 480 - But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times.
Page 39 - It is essential to such a government, that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion, or a favored class of it ; otherwise a handful of tyrannical nobles, exercising their oppressions by a delegation of their powers, might aspire to the rank of republicans, and claim for their government the honorable title of republic..
Page 28 - The people of this State have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign and independent State...
Page 30 - Men being, as has been said, by nature all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent. The only way whereby any one divests himself of his natural liberty, and puts on the bonds of civil society, is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community, for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another, in a secure enjoyment of their properties, and a greater...