Reconstructing the Commercial Republic: Constitutional Design after MadisonUniversity of Chicago Press, 1. jul. 2006 - 427 strani James Madison is the thinker most responsible for laying the groundwork of the American commercial republic. But he did not anticipate that the propertied class on which he relied would become extraordinarily politically powerful at the same time as its interests narrowed. This and other flaws, argues Stephen L. Elkin, have undermined the delicately balanced system he constructed. In Reconstructing the Commercial Republic, Elkin critiques the Madisonian system, revealing which of its aspects have withstood the test of time and which have not. The deficiencies Elkin points out provide the starting point for his own constitutional theory of the republic—a theory that, unlike Madison’s, lays out a substantive conception of the public interest that emphasizes the power of institutions to shape our political, economic, and civic lives. Elkin argues that his theory should guide us toward building a commercial republic that is rooted in a politics of the public interest and the self-interest of the middle class. He then recommends specific reforms to create this kind of republic, asserting that Americans today can still have the lives a commercial republic is intended to promote: lives with real opportunities for economic prosperity, republican political self-government, and individual liberty. |
Vsebina
1 Thinking Constitutionally in Light of American Aspirations | 1 |
Part I Madison and Constitutional Thinking | 19 |
Part II The Political Constitution of a Commercial Republic | 117 |
Notes | 307 |
Druge izdaje - Prikaži vse
Reconstructing the Commercial Republic: Constitutional Design after Madison Stephen L. Elkin Omejen predogled - 2015 |
Reconstructing the Commercial Republic: Constitutional Design after Madison Stephen L. Elkin Predogled ni na voljo - 2015 |
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aggregative American argued argument aspirations asset controllers capital chap chapter citizens civic commercial republican concern consider constitutional design constitutional theory constitutional thinking create crucial define deliberation deliberative lawmaking Democracy Democracy in America democratic discussion economic efforts elements Elkin equality faction Federalist foster fully realized commercial give concrete meaning groups Harvey Mansfield have-littles important institutions James Madison kind large-scale leaders least legal reasoning Legislation and Liberty legislative legislature less liberal liberty limits Madison majoritarian majorities matters middle class moral Moreover Nedelsky organization people’s permanent interests political order political regime political theory popular possible practice present principles private property problem productive assets public interest question realized commercial republic reform republican government republican political constitution republican regime requires role secure self-government self-interest separation of powers serve the public significant social social democracy society theorists Theory of Justice thought University Press unlikely well-ordered
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The Future of Democracy: Developing the Next Generation of American Citizens Peter Levine Prikaz kratkega opisa - 2007 |
The Future of Democracy: Developing the Next Generation of American Citizens Peter Levine Prikaz kratkega opisa - 2007 |