Prehistory of populist constitutionalism: Difference between revisions
Prehistory of populist constitutionalism (view source)
Revision as of 16:02, 24 February 2024
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==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>''[L]e pouvoir judiciaire de l'Union [...] retarde, il ne saurait arrêter le peuple puisque celui-ci peut en changeant la constitution arriver toujours à ce qu'il désire.''<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>
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>
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