The Government Class Book

a Constitution, and the

le, and to promote the general welfare. Under the reign of a wise and virtuous ruler, the rights of person and property may be fully enjoyed, and the people may be in a good degree prosperous. But the requisite virtue

ke ours, it is properly called the political law, being established by the people as a body politic, or political body. (Chap. III, §5.) It is also called the fundamental law, because it is the foundation of al

its members. This agreement or contract implies, that each one binds himself to the whole, and the whole b

stitution, must have some right or authority to act in the business. Whence this right is derived, we will not now stop to inquire. There is

ller district, and are called delegates. A delegate is a person appointed by another with power to transact business as his representative. The assembly composed of the delegates so elected, is called convention; a name give

es are divided into sections, which also are numbered. But what has been thus prepared by the convention is not yet a constitution. It is only a draft of one, and can not become a constitution without the

titution that their rights are secured. All the people join in establishing the constitution; but they do not all unite in making and executing the laws; in other words, they do not themselves administer the governmen

ight to elect those who are to make and administer the laws. The monarch has entire control over his subjects. He can take their lives

and he can not make laws alone. The laws are framed and agreed to by parliament, and must be approved by the king or queen. Parliament consists of two bodie

by the people. What is there called the constitution, is the aggregate or sum of laws, principles, and customs, which have been formed in the course of centuries. There is therefore no restraint upon th