Senators Beholden to the People: Lincoln and the Doctrine of Instruction

The founders of the United States debated whether to have a government based on direct democracy or representative democracy. This book examines the competition between these two forms of democracy through the pre-presidential career of Abraham Lincoln.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 31 December 2023
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

The founders of the republic engaged in a profound debate regarding the form of government they should establish. On the one hand, there was the notion of direct democracy, where the general population would directly decide public policy matters, akin to a New England town meeting. On the other hand, there was the concept of representative democracy, where elected senators and congressmen would make decisions on behalf behalf of the general population. A closely related issue was whether the general population should possess the right to instruction, granting them the authority. This right allowed citizens to remove from office government officials who disregarded the wishes of the populace. While the right of instruction has largely faded from memory in modern times, it was once considered so crucial that it was routinely included in state constitutions. This book delves into the intense rivalry between direct democracy and representative democracy in the United States, with a specific focus on the doctrine of instruction. Through the lens of Abraham Lincoln's pre-presidential career, the book explores the various dimensions of this debate and its impact on the nation's political landscape.

The founders of the republic engaged in a profound debate regarding the form of government they should establish. On the one hand, there was the notion of direct democracy, where the general population would directly decide public policy matters, akin to a New England town meeting. On the other hand, there was the concept of representative democracy, where elected senators and congressmen would make decisions on behalf of the general population. A closely related issue was whether the general population should possess the right to instruction, granting them the ability. This right allowed citizens to remove from office government officials who disregarded the wishes of the populace. While the right of instruction has largely faded from memory in modern times, it was once considered so crucial that it was routinely included in state constitutions. This book delves into the intense rivalry between direct democracy and representative democracy in the United States, with a specific focus on the doctrine of instruction. Through the lens of Abraham Lincoln's pre-presidential career, the book explores the various dimensions of this debate and its impact on the nation's political landscape.

Weight: 216g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476691718