Description

Book Synopsis

The American Republic''s founders debated whether to have a government based on direct democracy (in which the general population decided public policy questions, as in a New England town meeting) or representative democracy (in which those decisions were made by senators and congressmen on behalf of the general population). A related issue was whether the general population should have the right of instruction which gave citizens authority to expel from office government officials who disobeyed the desires of the population. The right of instruction is now largely forgotten but in former times was considered so important that it was routinely included in state constitutions. This book examines the competition between direct democracy and representative democracy in the United States, focusing particularly on the doctrine of instruction, through the lens of the pre-presidential career of Abraham Lincoln.



Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents
  • Preface
  • Part 1. Instruction
  • Part 2. Election of Senators by State Legislatures
  • Part 3. Lincoln's Experiences with U.S. Senate
  • Campaigns
  • Epilogue: A Modest Proposal
  • Chapter Notes
  • Bibliography
  • Index

Senators Beholden to the People

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    A Paperback by Richard Lawrence Miller

    £27.92

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 25 Aug 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher McFarland & Co Inc
      Published 1/31/2023 12:12:00 AM
      ISBN-13 9781476691718
      978-1476691718
      ISBN-10 1476691711
      Also in:
      Military History Civil wars Politics and government

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      The American Republic''s founders debated whether to have a government based on direct democracy (in which the general population decided public policy questions, as in a New England town meeting) or representative democracy (in which those decisions were made by senators and congressmen on behalf of the general population). A related issue was whether the general population should have the right of instruction which gave citizens authority to expel from office government officials who disobeyed the desires of the population. The right of instruction is now largely forgotten but in former times was considered so important that it was routinely included in state constitutions. This book examines the competition between direct democracy and representative democracy in the United States, focusing particularly on the doctrine of instruction, through the lens of the pre-presidential career of Abraham Lincoln.



      Table of Contents
      • Table of Contents
      • Preface
      • Part 1. Instruction
      • Part 2. Election of Senators by State Legislatures
      • Part 3. Lincoln's Experiences with U.S. Senate
      • Campaigns
      • Epilogue: A Modest Proposal
      • Chapter Notes
      • Bibliography
      • Index

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