Readings in American Government |
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action administration adopted affairs American appointed appropriations Articles of Confederation authority become bill body Budget cabinet character citizens Civil Service Civil Service Reform clause commerce committee common conferred Congress Constitution convention coördination Dartmouth College declared democratic departments due process duty effect election Emperor of China eral ernment established executive power exer exercise exist fact favor federal Federalist force foreign Fourteenth Amendment give granted House important independent individual influence interest judges judgment judicial power jurisdiction justice lative leaders legislation legislature liberty limits means ment Montesquieu national government national party natural necessary object operation opinion organization passed persons political present President principles privileges protection purpose question regard representatives republic republican respect rule secure Senate sovereignty spoils system stitution Supreme Court theory things tion tional Union United vote Webster-Hayne debate Whig whole words
Popular passages
Page 49 - The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger...
Page 169 - In all the changes to which you may be invited, remember that time and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character of governments as of other human institutions — that experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution of a country — that facility in changes upon the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion exposes to perpetual change from the endless variety of hypothesis and opinion...
Page 172 - In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be excluded ; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave.
Page 168 - The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all...
Page 343 - A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except by a partnership of democratic nations. No autocratic Government could be trusted to keep faith within it or observe its covenants.
Page 326 - At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed very fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented.
Page 30 - That a national government ought to be established, consisting of a supreme legislative, executive, and judiciary.
Page 177 - In the discussions to which this interest has given rise, and in the arrangements by which they may terminate, the occasion has been judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which the rights and interests of United States are involved...
Page 342 - It was a war determined upon as wars used to be determined upon in the old, unhappy days when peoples were nowhere consulted by their rulers and wars were provoked and waged in the interest of dynasties or of little groups of ambitious men who were accustomed to use their fellow men as pawns and tools.
Page 169 - It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those intrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another.