Prehistory of populist constitutionalism: Difference between revisions
Prehistory of populist constitutionalism (view source)
Revision as of 15:55, 24 February 2024
, 4 months ago→Alexis de Tocqueville
Line 22:
==Alexis de Tocqueville==
Tocqueville devoted his life to studying American democracy. Describing populist constitutionalism in this new-born republic was among his main achievements. One of his keenest observations is the following:
<blockquote>.<ref>.</ref></blockquote>
Translation:
<blockquote>[T]he judicial power [...] slows, it cannot stop the people, because the latter by changing the constitution can always arrive at what they desire.<ref>Alexis de Tocqueville, ''Democracy in America. Historical-Critical Edition of De la démocratie en Amérique'', ed. Eduardo Nolla, Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2010, p. 167 (note b).</ref></blockquote>
==Theodore Roosevelt==
Theodore Roosevelt has been conventionally thought of as a vehement opponent of populism, i.e. of United States People's Party. Nevertheless, labels aside, the 26th President of the United States did not shy away from expressing populist views in constitutional matters. For example, in a famous speech delivered in 1912 and recorded by Thomas Edison, Roosevelt quipped:
| |||