The View of Encyclopedia
Forms of government and the State: Various attempts have been made to classify states, but these attempts have been unsatisfactory be cause they rest upon mo scientific principle by which the fundamental characteristics of various states may be distinguished. In their nature, in their legal character, and in their primary purposes, states are essentially similar. … Read more
The nature of political power: A working theory of the State must, in fact, be conceived in administrative terms. Its will is the decision arrived at by a small number of men to whom is confided the legal power of making decisions. How that power is organized is rather a matter of form than of … Read more
From such an outlook we may derive a sense of the purpose embodied in the State. In this aspect it becomes an organization for enabling the mass of men to realize social good on the largest possible scale. Necessarily, it is clear, its functions are confined to promoting certain uniformities of conduct and the area … Read more
A new political philosophy is necessary to a new world. The perspective of social thought has shifted in a direction different from the horizon set for it by Bentham and Hegel in the last century. If the large aims we have in view are not dissimilar to theirs, the materials at our command and the … Read more
Division of Powers on Territorial Basis: In addition to the distribution of governmental powers in accordance with the character of the function to be performed, as discussed in the preceding article, modern states, because of the extent of their area, find it desirable also to divide the powers of government along territorial lines. According to … Read more
Necessity for Separation of Powers: Because of the extent of modern states in area and population and because of the wide range of interests with which their governments deal, a large number of persons are occupied in government, and considerable distribution of power among various organs is necessary. One of the main principles on which … Read more
Definition of Law: In ordinary usage the term “law” is applied to any principle that is fixed, or uniform, or generally followed. It is often applied to the sequence of cause and effect observed in the world of natural phenomena. Thus, we speak of the law of gravitation, or of falling bodies, or of chemical … Read more
Nature of Political Parties. A political party consists of a group of citizens, more or less organized, who am as a political unit and who, by the use of their voting power, aim to control the government and carry out their general policies. it is the most elaborate and comprehensive form in which public opinion … Read more
Sovereignty and Liberty: A discussion of sovereignty with civil and political rights leads naturally to a consideration of liberty. Sovereignty represents the authority of the state, liberty, the freedom of the individual The proper relation between the individual and the state has long been a problem on Which great thinkers have differed. Weather the individual … Read more
Nature of Sovereignty: The relation of state to state, of a state to its citizens, and of one citizen to another can be understood only after a further discussion of that characteristic which distinguishes the state from all other organizations, its sovereignty. Such discussion leads naturally to the corollary of state sovereignty, namely, individual liberty. … Read more