Question

The following is a quote by President Abraham Lincoln: "A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people." The above quote most closely describes which of the following forms of government? A. a constitutional republic B. a monarchy C. a pure democracy D. anarchy

Short answer

A. a constitutional republic

Step-by-step solution

To choose the correct answer, it is important to have a basic understanding of the different forms of government presented in the options: A. A constitutional republic is a form of government in which the head of state and other officials are representatives of the people and must govern according to existing constitutional law that limits the government's power over citizens. B. A monarchy is a form of government in which a single individual, usually a king or queen, holds supreme authority and power, often passing down power through a family lineage. C. A pure democracy, or direct democracy, is a form of government where citizens participate directly in making decisions and voting on policies, without the need for representatives. D. Anarchy is the absence of a central government or authority, and typically consists of a society with no hierarchy or law enforcement. #Step 2: Analyze the quote#

Let's break down the quote: "A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people." This quote emphasizes the importance of a majority being restrained by constitutional checks and limitations, which implies the existence of a constitution that limits the government's power over citizens. It also mentions that the majority should change with the deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, suggesting a flexible government that adapts to the will of the people. #Step 3: Match the quote with the appropriate form of government#

After analyzing the quote, we can associate the characteristics mentioned in the quote to a particular form of government: A. The characteristics of a constitutional republic align with the quote, as it is a representative government governed by a constitution that limits the government's power over citizens and allows for flexibility as public opinion changes. B. A monarchy does not align with the quote, as power is held by a single individual and is not limited by a constitution nor is it flexible with the changing opinions of the citizens. C. In a pure democracy, the majority directly votes without constitutional checks and limitations, which does not match the quote's focus on a majority restrained by these checks. D. Anarchy does not apply to the quote, as it is the absence of any form of government, and the quote refers to a specific kind of government structure. #Conclusion: Choose the answer that best fits the quote#

Based on the analysis of the quote and understanding of the forms of government, the correct answer is: A. a constitutional republic, as it reflects the quote's emphasis on a majority restrained by constitutional checks and limitations, and the ability to change with the shifting popular opinions and sentiments of a free people.

Key concepts

Constitutional Republic

A constitutional republic is a political system where the state is ruled by representatives of the citizen body and the government is bound by an established constitution. In this system, the representatives hold the authority to govern but are elected by the people to serve their interests and are subject to the rule of law encapsulated in the constitution.

The key characteristic of a constitutional republic is that it has specific safeguards against the majority's potential to infringe upon the rights and liberties of individuals or minorities. These 'constitutional checks and limitations' are essential to preventing any single group from wielding too much power. The phrase 'changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments' reflects the democratic aspect of a constitutional republic. It ensures that while the government has stability and continuity, it can adapt to the evolving will of the people.

Examples of constitutional republics include the United States, where the President and Congress are elected by citizens and must operate within the limits set by the Constitution. This balance between the majority's will and individual rights is what Abraham Lincoln highlighted as the essence of 'the only true sovereign of a free people.'

Monarchy

A monarchy is one of the oldest forms of government where a monarch, usually a king or queen, exercises the ultimate governing authority as head of state. This role is typically inherited and not elected, and may be either absolute or constitutional.

An absolute monarchy gives the monarch complete control over the government and the people. On the other hand, a constitutional monarchy, much like the United Kingdom, limits the monarch's powers through laws or a constitution. In a constitutional monarchy, the sovereign's role is often symbolic, with real political power residing in other branches of government. In either case, monarchies differ significantly from a constitutional republic because they don't entail a system where the leaders are elected by the entirety of the citizen body. Furthermore, the presence or absence of constitutional restraints can affect how closely it can resemble other forms of government such as a constitutional republic.

Pure Democracy

A pure democracy, also known as direct democracy, is a form of government where decisions are made directly by the people, rather than by elected representatives. This system demands high participation from citizens as they vote on every issue or policy.

The ancient Athenian democracy was a clear example of a pure democracy, where citizens had the right to speak and vote directly on legislation and executive bills in their own right, without any intermediary representatives. Modern examples are rare because direct democracy is most feasible in small communities or organizations. The concept ties in with the phrase from Lincoln's quote in that decisions can 'change easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments.' However, it diverges in the aspect that there is no mention of a protective framework like a constitution, which would restrict the direct power of the majority, as is apparent in a constitutional republic.

Anarchy

Anarchy is a political philosophy that advocates for the absence of government, suggesting that people should govern themselves in a state without imposed authority or power structures. The term is often associated with chaos or disorder due to the lack of recognized central authority, but some anarchists argue for organized, non-hierarchical forms of community governance.

In an anarchy, there is no structured government to place limitations on actions or to create laws enforced upon the people. Individuals are free to act as they choose without the existence of any overarching legal restraints or authoritative bodies. This is philosophically opposite to the concept highlighted in Lincoln's quote, which underscores the importance of a government where the majority is restrained and guided by the deliberate changes in popular opinions and sentiments within a structured and constitutional framework. Anarchy does, however, align with Lincoln's idea of changeability and flexibility, but it differs fundamentally in that there is no formalized manner for achieving or maintaining this.