The following comparative analysis shows the principal characteristics
of the three forms of government:
Autocracy:
Authority is derived through heredity.
People have no choice in the selection of their rulers and no
voice in making of the laws.
Results in arbitrariness, tyranny, and oppression.
Attitude toward property is feudalistic.
Attitude toward law is that the will of the ruler shall control,
regardless of reason or consequences.
Democracy: A government of the masses.
Authority derived through mass meeting or any other form of "direct"
expression.
Results in mobocracy.
Attitude toward property is communistic - negating property rights.
Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate,
whether it be based upon deliberation or governed by passion,
prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences.
Results in demagogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchy.
Republic:
Authority is derived through the election by the people of public
officials best fitted to represent them.
Attitude toward property is respect for laws and individual rights,
and a sensible economic procedure.
Attitude toward law is the administration of justice in accord
with fixed principles and established evidence, with a strict
regard to consequences. A greater number of citizens and extent
of territory may be brought within its compass.
Avoids the dangerous extreme of either tyranny or mobocracy.
Results in statesmanship, liberty, reason, justice, contentment,
and progress.
Is the "standard form" of government throughout the
world.
A republic is a form of government under a constitution which
provides for the election of (1) an executive and (2) a legislative
body, who working together in a representative capacity, have
all the power of appointment, all power of legislation, all power
to raise revenue and appropriate expenditures, and are required
to create (3) a judiciary to pass upon the justice and legality
of their governmental acts and to recognize (4) certain inherent
individual rights.
Take away any one or more of those four elements and you are
drifting into autocracy. Add one or more to those four elements
and you are drifting into democracy. - Atwood. |