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| | == Basic concept == | | == Basic concept == |
| | The Republican form is based on the foundation that people are supreme, and governments are instituted to help secure their rights to life, liberty and property. | | The Republican form is based on the foundation that people are supreme, and governments are instituted to help secure their rights to life, liberty and property. |
| − | Examples of sovereign prerogatives are the right to defend [[private property]] with deadly force, right of locomotion (freedom to travel) upon public roads and waterways, and free exercise of rights and powers. | + | |
| − | The source and origin of the republican form is found in the Declaration of Independence, wherein all men have Creator endowed rights that governments were instituted to secure. All state constitutions restate the Declaration's self evident truths. | + | Examples of sovereign prerogatives are the right to defend [[private property]] with deadly force, right of locomotion (freedom to travel) upon public roads and waterways, and free exercise of rights and powers. The source and origin of the republican form is found in the Declaration of Independence, wherein all men have Creator-endowed rights that governments were instituted to secure. All state constitutions restate the Declaration's self-evident truths. |
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| | == Philosophical foundations == | | == Philosophical foundations == |
| − | The political philosophy of the classical republics, such as The Roman republic, Icelandic Commonwealth, and the Carthaginian Republic, has had a central influence on republican thought throughout the subsequent centuries. A number of classical writers discussed forms of government alternative to monarchies and later writers have treated these as foundational works on the nature of republics. Philosophers and politicians advocating for republics, such as Machiavelli, Montesquieu, Adams, and Madison, relied heavily on these sources. | + | The political philosophy of the classical republics, such as The [[Roman Republic]], Icelandic Commonwealth, and the Carthaginian Republic, has had a central influence on republican thought throughout the subsequent centuries. A number of classical writers discussed forms of government alternative to monarchies and later writers have treated these as foundational works on the nature of republics. Philosophers and politicians advocating for republics, such as Machiavelli, Montesquieu, Adams, and Madison, relied heavily on these sources. |
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| | == Case law == | | == Case law == |
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| | It is a common error to assume that a [[republic]] is synonymous with a republican form of government. Many are misled to assume that the republican form is merely a populist democracy limited by a constitution. In fact, exercising political liberty ''(voting and holding office)'' requires one to step down in status, changing from the republican form to the democratic form. American citizens are assumed to have voluntarily accepted obligations and duties associated with democracy that are inapplicable to the people at large. For example, conscription, if compulsory, would be a violation of liberty and life. However, in American law, sovereign people are not subjects to or objects of such impositions - only citizens are obligated. | | It is a common error to assume that a [[republic]] is synonymous with a republican form of government. Many are misled to assume that the republican form is merely a populist democracy limited by a constitution. In fact, exercising political liberty ''(voting and holding office)'' requires one to step down in status, changing from the republican form to the democratic form. American citizens are assumed to have voluntarily accepted obligations and duties associated with democracy that are inapplicable to the people at large. For example, conscription, if compulsory, would be a violation of liberty and life. However, in American law, sovereign people are not subjects to or objects of such impositions - only citizens are obligated. |
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| − | Another misconception is that elected officials in the legislature are representatives of the people at large. In fact, they can only represent constituents, i.e., citizens / voters who gave consent, thus power of attorney to bind them to obedience. In a republican form, the individual's delegated representative who exercises power on his behalf, in defense of his life, liberty or property rights is not the legislature but the appropriate executive officer. A sheriff, if within a county, is his representative. Or an ambassador is his representative, if within a foreign nation. | + | Another misconception is that elected officials in the legislature are representatives of the people at large. In fact, they can only represent constituents, i.e., citizens/voters who gave consent, thus power of attorney to bind them to obedience. In a republican form, the individual's delegated representative who exercises power on his behalf, in defense of his life, liberty or property rights is not the legislature but the appropriate executive officer. A sheriff, if within a county, is his representative. Likewise, an ambassador is his representative, if within a foreign nation. |
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| | == Essential elements == | | == Essential elements == |
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| | Happersett, 88 U.S. (21 Wall.) 162, 22 L.Ed. 627. | | Happersett, 88 U.S. (21 Wall.) 162, 22 L.Ed. 627. |
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| − | "What I do say is that no man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent. I say this is the leading principle, the sheet-anchor of American republicanism. Our Declaration of Independence says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." | + | "What I do say is that no man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent. I say this is the leading principle, the sheet-anchor of American republicanism. Our [[Declaration of Independence]] says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." |
| | —Abraham Lincoln, Speech at Peoria, Illinois (1854) | | —Abraham Lincoln, Speech at Peoria, Illinois (1854) |
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