Constitutional Democracy

Portada
Oxford University Press, 1996 M03 28 - 400 páginas
This volume systematically examines how the basic constitutional structure of governments affects what they can accomplish. At a time when Americans are more and more disillusioned about government's fundamental ability to reach solutions for domestic problems, and when countries in the former Soviet block and around the world are rewriting their constitutions, the relationship between government and constitution is especially important. Political economist Dennis Mueller illuminates the links between the structure of democratic government and its outcomes by drawing comparisons between the American system and other systems around the world. Working from the "public choice" perspective in political science, the book analyzes electoral rules, voting rules, federalism, citizenship, and separation of powers, making it a valuable resource for anyone curious about the world's political environment.

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Contenido

The Constitutional Perspective
41
Institutions to Reveal and Advance a Communitys Interests
75
Institutions to Constrain Government
175
Getting Started
297
Coming to an End
339
Glossary
349
Bibliography
351
Name Index
371
Subject Index
377
Derechos de autor

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Página 279 - The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body.
Página ix - 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.
Página 59 - 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.
Página 341 - I think that the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest he; and therefore truly, sir, I think it's clear, that every man that is to live under a government ought first by his own consent to put himself under that government...
Página 177 - The foundation of democracy is faith in the capacities of human nature; faith in human intelligence and in the power of pooled and cooperative experience. It is not belief that these things are complete but that if given a show they will grow and be able to generate progressively the knowledge and wisdom needed to guide collective action.
Página 114 - Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes.
Página 114 - The efficient secret of the English constitution may be described as the close union, the nearly complete fusion, of the executive and legislative powers.
Página 47 - The foundation of our empire was not laid in the gloomy age of ignorance and superstition ; but at an epocha when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period.

Acerca del autor (1996)

Dennis C. Mueller is Professor of Economics at the University of Vienna.

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