ESSENTIALS OF AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT


31. THE AIM OF THIS CHAPTER.--The form of government established in
this country by the Constitution of 1787 is known as a republic. A
republic may be defined as a representative democracy, or, in the
popular sense of the term, simply as a democracy. Now, to point out
that a government is democratic does not necessarily mean that it is a
sound government. Granting that self-government is morally right, the
fate of a democracy will depend, partly upon the character of the
people, and partly upon the nature of the governmental machinery
through which that people expresses its will. The proof of democracy
is in its workings. The aim of this chapter is not to pass judgment
upon democracy, but rather to outline the essential characteristics of
American constitutional government. When this background has been
secured we shall be in a position to begin a detailed study of applied
democracy, to point out its merits, to call attention to its defects,
and to consider how and to what extent it may be improved.

32. STRENGTH.--American constitutional government is a strong
government. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were
avoided in framing the Constitution of 1787. Whereas the Confederation
government was really headless, the Constitution of 1787 provided for
a strong executive. The Confederation Congress could not levy taxes,
but the Congress of the United States has adequate powers in this
regard. There can be no recurrence of one of the chief financial
troubles of the Revolutionary period, for at the present time the
several states may neither coin money nor emit bills of credit. The
Federal government has exclusive control of foreign affairs, so that
no state may individually enter into any agreement with a foreign