Thegovernmentofdemocracybringsthenotionofpoliticalrightstothelevelofthehumblestcitizens，justasthedisseminationofwealthbringsthenotionofpropertywithinthereachofallthemembersofthecommunity;andIconfessthat，tomymind，thisisoneofitsgreatestadvantages。Idonotassertthatitiseasytoteachmentoexercisepoliticalrights;butI
　　maintainthat，whenitispossible，theeffectswhichresultfromitarehighlyimportant;andIaddthat，ifthereeverwasatimeatwhichsuchanattemptoughttobemade，thattimeisourown。
　　Itisclearthattheinfluenceofreligiousbeliefisshaken，andthatthenotionofdivinerightsisdeclining;itisevidentthatpublicmoralityisvitiated，andthenotionofmoralrightsisalsodisappearing:thesearegeneralsymptomsofthesubstitutionofargumentforfaith，andofcalculationfortheimpulsesofsentiment。If，inthemidstofthisgeneraldisruption，youdonotsucceedinconnectingthenotionofrightswiththatofpersonalinterest，whichistheonlyimmutablepointinthehumanheart，whatmeanswillyouhaveofgoverningtheworldexceptbyfear？WhenIamtoldthat，sincethelawsareweakandthepopulaceiswild，sincepassionsareexcitedandtheauthorityofvirtueisparalyzed，nomeasuresmustbetakentoincreasetherightsofthedemocracy，Ireply，thatitisfortheseveryreasonsthatsomemeasuresofthekindmustbetaken;andIampersuadedthatgovernmentsarestillmoreinterestedintakingthemthansocietyatlarge，becausegovernmentsareliabletobedestroyedandsocietycannotperish。
　　Iamnot，however，inclinedtoexaggeratetheexamplewhichAmericafurnishes。InthoseStatesthepeopleareinvestedwithpoliticalrightsatatimewhentheycouldscarcelybeabused，forthecitizenswerefewinnumberandsimpleintheirmanners。
　　Astheyhaveincreased，theAmericanshavenotaugmentedthepowerofthedemocracy，buttheyhave，ifImayusetheexpression，extendeditsdominions。Itcannotbedoubtedthatthemomentatwhichpoliticalrightsaregrantedtoapeoplethathadbeforebeenwithoutthemisaverycritical，thoughitbeanecessaryone。Achildmaykillbeforeheisawareofthevalueoflife;andhemaydepriveanotherpersonofhispropertybeforeheisawarethathisownmaybetakenawayfromhim。Thelowerorders，whenfirsttheyareinvestedwithpoliticalrights，stand，inrelationtothoserights，inthesamepositionasthechilddoestothewholeofnature，andthecelebratedadagemaythenbeappliedtothem，Homopuerrobustus。ThistruthmayevenbeperceivedinAmerica。TheStatesinwhichthecitizenshaveenjoyedtheirrightslongestarethoseinwhichtheymakethebestuseofthem。
　　Itcannotberepeatedtoooftenthatnothingismorefertileinprodigiesthantheartofbeingfree;butthereisnothingmorearduousthantheapprenticeshipofliberty。Suchisnotthecasewithdespoticinstitutions:despotismoftenpromisestomakeamendsforathousandpreviousills;itsupportstheright，itprotectstheoppressed，anditmaintainspublicorder。Thenationislulledbythetemporaryprosperitywhichaccruestoit，untilitisrousedtoasenseofitsownmisery。Liberty，onthecontrary，isgenerallyestablishedinthemidstofagitation，itisperfectedbycivildiscord，anditsbenefitscannotbeappreciateduntilitisalreadyold。
　　ChapterXIV:AdvantagesAmericanSocietyDeriveFromDemocracy—
　　PartII
　　RespectForTheLawInTheUnitedStatesRespectoftheAmericansforthelaw—Parentalaffectionwhichtheyentertainforit—Personalinterestofeveryonetoincreasetheauthorityofthelaw。
　　Itisnotalwaysfeasibletoconsultthewholepeople，eitherdirectlyorindirectly，intheformationofthelaw;butitcannotbedeniedthat，whensuchameasureispossibletheauthorityofthelawisverymuchaugmented。Thispopularorigin，whichimpairstheexcellenceandthewisdomoflegislation，contributesprodigiouslytoincreaseitspower。Thereisanamazingstrengthintheexpressionofthedeterminationofawholepeople，andwhenitdeclaresitselftheimaginationofthosewhoaremostinclinedtocontestitisoverawedbyitsauthority。Thetruthofthisfactisverywellknownbyparties，andtheyconsequentlystrivetomakeoutamajoritywhenevertheycan。Iftheyhavenotthegreaternumberofvotersontheirside，theyassertthatthetruemajorityabstainedfromvoting;
　　andiftheyarefoiledeventhere，theyhaverecoursetothebodyofthosepersonswhohadnovotestogive。
　　IntheUnitedStates，exceptslaves，servants，andpaupersinthereceiptofrelieffromthetownships，thereisnoclassofpersonswhodonotexercisetheelectivefranchise，andwhodonotindirectlycontributetomakethelaws。Thosewhodesigntoattackthelawsmustconsequentlyeithermodifytheopinionofthenationortrampleuponitsdecision。
　　Asecondreason，whichisstillmoreweighty，maybefurtheradduced;intheUnitedStateseveryoneispersonallyinterestedinenforcingtheobedienceofthewholecommunitytothelaw;forastheminoritymayshortlyrallythemajoritytoitsprinciples，itisinterestedinprofessingthatrespectforthedecreesofthelegislatorwhichitmaysoonhaveoccasiontoclaimforitsown。Howeverirksomeanenactmentmaybe，thecitizenoftheUnitedStatescomplieswithit，notonlybecauseitistheworkofthemajority，butbecauseitoriginatesinhisownauthority，andheregardsitasacontracttowhichheishimselfaparty。
　　IntheUnitedStates，then，thatnumerousandturbulentmultitudedoesnotexistwhichalwayslooksuponthelawasitsnaturalenemy，andaccordinglysurveysitwithfearandwithfearandwithdistrust。Itisimpossible，ontheotherhand，nottoperceivethatallclassesdisplaytheutmostrelianceuponthelegislationoftheircountry，andthattheyareattachedtoitbyakindofparentalaffection。
　　Iamwrong，however，insayingallclasses;forasinAmericatheEuropeanscaleofauthorityisinverted，thewealthyarethereplacedinapositionanalogoustothatofthepoorintheOldWorld，anditistheopulentclasseswhichfrequentlylookuponthelawwithsuspicion。Ihavealreadyobservedthattheadvantageofdemocracyisnot，ashasbeensometimesasserted，thatitprotectstheinterestsofthewholecommunity，butsimplythatitprotectsthoseofthemajority。IntheUnitedStates，wherethepoorrule，therichhavealwayssomereasontodreadtheabusesoftheirpower。Thisnaturalanxietyoftherichmayproduceasullendissatisfaction，butsocietyisnotdisturbedbyit;forthesamereasonwhichinducestherichtowithholdtheirconfidenceinthelegislativeauthoritymakesthemobeyitsmandates;theirwealth，whichpreventsthemfrommakingthelaw，preventsthemfromwithstandingit。Amongstcivilizednationsrevoltsarerarelyexcited，exceptbysuchpersonsashavenothingtolosebythem;andifthelawsofademocracyarenotalwaysworthyofrespect，atleasttheyalwaysobtainit;forthosewhousuallyinfringethelawshavenoexcusefornotcomplyingwiththeenactmentstheyhavethemselvesmade，andbywhichtheyarethemselvesbenefited，whilstthecitizenswhoseinterestsmightbepromotedbytheinfractionofthemareinduced，bytheircharacterandtheirstations，tosubmittothedecisionsofthelegislature，whatevertheymaybe。Besideswhich，thepeopleinAmericaobeysthelawnotonlybecauseitemanatesfromthepopularauthority，butbecausethatauthoritymaymodifyitinanypointswhichmayprovevexatory;alawisobservedbecauseitisaself—imposedevilinthefirstplace，andaneviloftransientdurationinthesecond。
　　ActivityWhichPervadesAllTheBranchesOfTheBodyPoliticInTheUnitedStates;InfluenceWhichItExercisesUponSocietyMoredifficulttoconceivethepoliticalactivitywhichpervadestheUnitedStatesthanthefreedomandequalitywhichreignthere—Thegreatactivitywhichperpetuallyagitatesthelegislativebodiesisonlyanepisodetothegeneralactivity—DifficultforanAmericantoconfinehimselftohisownbusiness—Politicalagitationextendstoallsocialintercourse—CommercialactivityoftheAmericanspartlyattributabletothiscause—Indirectadvantageswhichsocietyderivesfromademocraticgovernment。
　　Onpassingfromacountryinwhichfreeinstitutionsareestablishedtoonewheretheydonotexist，thetravellerisstruckbythechange;intheformerallisbustleandactivity，inthelattereverythingiscalmandmotionless。Intheone，ameliorationandprogressarethegeneraltopicsofinquiry;intheother，itseemsasifthecommunityonlyaspiredtoreposeintheenjoymentoftheadvantageswhichithasacquired。
　　Nevertheless，thecountrywhichexertsitselfsostrenuouslytopromoteitswelfareisgenerallymorewealthyandmoreprosperousthanthatwhichappearstobesocontentedwithitslot;andwhenwecomparethemtogether，wecanscarcelyconceivehowsomanynewwantsaredailyfeltintheformer，whilstsofewseemtooccurinthelatter。
　　Ifthisremarkisapplicabletothosefreecountriesinwhichmonarchicalandaristocraticinstitutionssubsist，itisstillmorestrikingwithregardtodemocraticrepublics。IntheseStatesitisnotonlyaportionofthepeoplewhichisbusiedwiththeameliorationofitssocialcondition，butthewholecommunityisengagedinthetask;anditisnottheexigenciesandtheconvenienceofasingleclassforwhichaprovisionistobemade，buttheexigenciesandtheconvenienceofallranksoflife。
　　ItisnotimpossibletoconceivethesurpassinglibertywhichtheAmericansenjoy;someideamaylikewisebeformedoftheextremeequalitywhichsubsistsamongstthem，butthepoliticalactivitywhichpervadestheUnitedStatesmustbeseeninordertobeunderstood。NosoonerdoyousetfootupontheAmericansoilthanyouarestunnedbyakindoftumult;aconfusedclamorisheardoneveryside;andathousandsimultaneousvoicesdemandtheimmediatesatisfactionoftheirsocialwants。Everythingisinmotionaroundyou;here，thepeopleofonequarterofatownaremettodecideuponthebuildingofachurch;there，theelectionofarepresentativeisgoingon;alittlefurtherthedelegatesofadistrictarepostingtothetowninordertoconsultuponsomelocalimprovements;orinanotherplacethelaborersofavillagequittheirploughstodeliberateupontheprojectofaroadorapublicschool。MeetingsarecalledforthesolepurposeofdeclaringtheirdisapprobationofthelineofconductpursuedbytheGovernment;whilstinotherassembliesthecitizenssalutetheauthoritiesofthedayasthefathersoftheircountry。
　　SocietiesareformedwhichregarddrunkennessastheprincipalcauseoftheevilsunderwhichtheStatelabors，andwhichsolemnlybindthemselvestogiveaconstantexampleoftemperance。*c[Footnotec:AtthetimeofmystayintheUnitedStatesthetemperancesocietiesalreadyconsistedofmorethan270，000
　　members，andtheireffecthadbeentodiminishtheconsumptionoffermentedliquorsby500，000gallonsperannumintheStateofPennsylvaniaalone。]
　　ThegreatpoliticalagitationoftheAmericanlegislativebodies，whichistheonlykindofexcitementthatattractstheattentionofforeigncountries，isamereepisodeorasortofcontinuationofthatuniversalmovementwhichoriginatesinthelowestclassesofthepeopleandextendssuccessivelytoalltheranksofsociety。Itisimpossibletospendmoreeffortsinthepursuitofenjoyment。
　　ThecaresofpoliticallifeengrossamostprominentplaceintheoccupationofacitizenintheUnitedStates，andalmosttheonlypleasureofwhichanAmericanhasanyideaistotakeapartintheGovernment，andtodiscusstheparthehastaken。
　　Thisfeelingpervadesthemosttriflinghabitsoflife;eventhewomenfrequentlyattendpublicmeetingsandlistentopoliticalharanguesasarecreationaftertheirhouseholdlabors。Debatingclubsaretoacertainextentasubstitutefortheatricalentertainments:anAmericancannotconverse，buthecandiscuss;
　　andwhenheattemptstotalkhefallsintoadissertation。Hespeakstoyouasifhewasaddressingameeting;andifheshouldchancetowarminthecourseofthediscussion，hewillinfalliblysay，"Gentlemen，"tothepersonwithwhomheisconversing。
　　Insomecountriestheinhabitantsdisplayacertainrepugnancetoavailthemselvesofthepoliticalprivilegeswithwhichthelawinveststhem;itwouldseemthattheysettoohighavalueupontheirtimetospenditontheinterestsofthecommunity;andtheyprefertowithdrawwithintheexactlimitsofawholesomeegotism，markedoutbyfoursunkfencesandaquicksethedge。ButifanAmericanwerecondemnedtoconfinehisactivitytohisownaffairs，hewouldberobbedofonehalfofhisexistence;hewouldfeelanimmensevoidinthelifewhichheisaccustomedtolead，andhiswretchednesswouldbeunbearable。
　　*dIampersuadedthat，ifeveradespoticgovernmentisestablishedinAmerica，itwillfinditmoredifficulttosurmountthehabitswhichfreeinstitutionshaveengenderedthantoconquertheattachmentofthecitizenstofreedom。
　　[Footnoted:ThesameremarkwasmadeatRomeunderthefirstCaesars。MontesquieusomewherealludestotheexcessivedespondencyofcertainRomancitizenswho，aftertheexcitementofpoliticallife，wereallatonceflungbackintothestagnationofprivatelife。]
　　Thisceaselessagitationwhichdemocraticgovernmenthasintroducedintothepoliticalworldinfluencesallsocialintercourse。Iamnotsurethatuponthewholethisisnotthegreatestadvantageofdemocracy。AndIammuchlessinclinedtoapplauditforwhatitdoesthanforwhatitcausestobedone。
　　Itisincontestablethatthepeoplefrequentlyconductspublicbusinessveryill;butitisimpossiblethatthelowerordersshouldtakeapartinpublicbusinesswithoutextendingthecircleoftheirideas，andwithoutquittingtheordinaryroutineoftheirmentalacquirements。Thehumblestindividualwhoiscalledupontoco—operateinthegovernmentofsocietyacquiresacertaindegreeofself—respect;andashepossessesauthority，hecancommandtheservicesofmindsmuchmoreenlightenedthanhisown。Heiscanvassedbyamultitudeofapplicants，whoseektodeceivehiminathousanddifferentways，butwhoinstructhimbytheirdeceit。Hetakesapartinpoliticalundertakingswhichdidnotoriginateinhisownconception，butwhichgivehimatasteforundertakingsofthekind。Newameliorationsaredailypointedoutinthepropertywhichheholdsincommonwithothers，andthisgiveshimthedesireofimprovingthatpropertywhichismorepeculiarlyhisown。Heisperhapsneitherhappiernorbetterthanthosewhocamebeforehim，butheisbetterinformedandmoreactive。I
　　havenodoubtthatthedemocraticinstitutionsoftheUnitedStates，joinedtothephysicalconstitutionofthecountry，arethecause（notthedirect，asissooftenasserted，buttheindirectcause）oftheprodigiouscommercialactivityoftheinhabitants。Itisnotengenderedbythelaws，butthepeoplelearnshowtopromoteitbytheexperiencederivedfromlegislation。
　　Whentheopponentsofdemocracyassertthatasingleindividualperformsthedutieswhichheundertakesmuchbetterthanthegovernmentofthecommunity，itappearstomethattheyareperfectlyright。Thegovernmentofanindividual，supposinganequalityofinstructiononeitherside，ismoreconsistent，morepersevering，andmoreaccuratethanthatofamultitude，anditismuchbetterqualifiedjudiciouslytodiscriminatethecharactersofthemenitemploys。IfanydenywhatIadvance，theyhavecertainlyneverseenademocraticgovernment，orhaveformedtheiropinionuponverypartialevidence。Itistruethatevenwhenlocalcircumstancesandthedispositionofthepeopleallowdemocraticinstitutionstosubsist，theyneverdisplayaregularandmethodicalsystemofgovernment。Democraticlibertyisfarfromaccomplishingalltheprojectsitundertakes，withtheskillofanadroitdespotism。Itfrequentlyabandonsthembeforetheyhavebornetheirfruits，orrisksthemwhentheconsequencesmayprovedangerous;butintheenditproducesmorethananyabsolutegovernment，andifitdofewerthingswell，itdoesagreaternumberofthings。Underitsswaythetransactionsofthepublicadministrationarenotnearlysoimportantaswhatisdonebyprivateexertion。Democracydoesnotconferthemostskilfulkindofgovernmentuponthepeople，butitproducesthatwhichthemostskilfulgovernmentsarefrequentlyunabletoawaken，namely，anall—pervadingandrestlessactivity，asuperabundantforce，andanenergywhichisinseparablefromit，andwhichmay，underfavorablecircumstances，begetthemostamazingbenefits。Thesearethetrueadvantagesofdemocracy。
　　Inthepresentage，whenthedestiniesofChristendomseemtobeinsuspense，somehastentoassaildemocracyasitsfoewhilstitisyetinitsearlygrowth;andothersarereadywiththeirvowsofadorationforthisnewdeitywhichisspringingforthfromchaos:butbothpartiesareveryimperfectlyacquaintedwiththeobjectoftheirhatredoroftheirdesires;
　　theystrikeinthedark，anddistributetheirblowsbymerechance。
　　Wemustfirstunderstandwhatthepurportofsocietyandtheaimofgovernmentisheldtobe。Ifitbeyourintentiontoconferacertainelevationuponthehumanmind，andtoteachittoregardthethingsofthisworldwithgenerousfeelings，toinspiremenwithascornofmeretemporaladvantage，togivebirthtolivingconvictions，andtokeepalivethespiritofhonorabledevotedness;ifyouholdittobeagoodthingtorefinethehabits，toembellishthemanners，tocultivatetheartsofanation，andtopromotetheloveofpoetry，ofbeauty，andofrenown;ifyouwouldconstituteapeoplenotunfittedtoactwithpoweruponallothernations，norunpreparedforthosehighenterpriseswhich，whateverbetheresultofitsefforts，willleaveanameforeverfamousintime—ifyoubelievesuchtobetheprincipalobjectofsociety，youmustavoidthegovernmentofdemocracy，whichwouldbeaveryuncertainguidetotheendyouhaveinview。
　　Butifyouholdittobeexpedienttodivertthemoralandintellectualactivityofmantotheproductionofcomfort，andtotheacquirementofthenecessariesoflife;ifaclearunderstandingbemoreprofitabletomanthangenius;ifyourobjectbenottostimulatethevirtuesofheroism，buttocreatehabitsofpeace;ifyouhadratherwitnessvicesthancrimesandarecontenttomeetwithfewernobledeeds，providedoffencesbediminishedinthesameproportion;if，insteadoflivinginthemidstofabrilliantstateofsociety，youarecontentedtohaveprosperityaroundyou;if，inshort，youareofopinionthattheprincipalobjectofaGovernmentisnottoconferthegreatestpossibleshareofpowerandofgloryuponthebodyofthenation，buttoensurethegreatestdegreeofenjoymentandtheleastdegreeofmiserytoeachoftheindividualswhocomposeit—ifsuchbeyourdesires，youcanhavenosurermeansofsatisfyingthemthanbyequalizingtheconditionsofmen，andestablishingdemocraticinstitutions。
　　Butifthetimebepassedatwhichsuchachoicewaspossible，andifsomesuperhumanpowerimpelustowardsoneortheotherofthesetwogovernmentswithoutconsultingourwishes，letusatleastendeavortomakethebestofthatwhichisallottedtous;andletussoinquireintoitsgoodanditsevilpropensitiesastobeabletofostertheformerandrepressthelattertotheutmost。
　　ChapterXV:UnlimitedPowerOfMajority，AndItsConsequences—
　　PartI
　　ChapterSummaryNaturalstrengthofthemajorityindemocracies—MostoftheAmericanConstitutionshaveincreasedthisstrengthbyartificialmeans—Howthishasbeendone—Pledgeddelegates—Moralpowerofthemajority—Opinionastoitsinfallibility—Respectforitsrights，howaugmentedintheUnitedStates。
　　UnlimitedPowerOfTheMajorityInTheUnitedStates，AndItsConsequencesTheveryessenceofdemocraticgovernmentconsistsintheabsolutesovereigntyofthemajority;forthereisnothingindemocraticStateswhichiscapableofresistingit。MostoftheAmericanConstitutionshavesoughttoincreasethisnaturalstrengthofthemajoritybyartificialmeans。*a[Footnotea:Weobserved，inexaminingtheFederalConstitution，thattheeffortsofthelegislatorsoftheUnionhadbeendiametricallyopposedtothepresenttendency。TheconsequencehasbeenthattheFederalGovernmentismoreindependentinitsspherethanthatoftheStates。ButtheFederalGovernmentscarcelyeverinterferesinanybutexternalaffairs;andthegovernmentsoftheStateareinthegovernmentsoftheStatesareinrealitytheauthoritieswhichdirectsocietyinAmerica。]
　　Thelegislatureis，ofallpoliticalinstitutions，theonewhichismosteasilyswayedbythewishesofthemajority。TheAmericansdeterminedthatthemembersofthelegislatureshouldbeelectedbythepeopleimmediately，andforaverybriefterm，inordertosubjectthem，notonlytothegeneralconvictions，buteventothedailypassion，oftheirconstituents。Themembersofbothhousesaretakenfromthesameclassinsociety，andarenominatedinthesamemanner;sothatthemodificationsofthelegislativebodiesarealmostasrapidandquiteasirresistibleasthoseofasingleassembly。Itistoalegislaturethusconstitutedthatalmostalltheauthorityofthegovernmenthasbeenentrusted。
　　Butwhilstthelawincreasedthestrengthofthoseauthoritieswhichofthemselveswerestrong，itenfeebledmoreandmorethosewhichwerenaturallyweak。Itdeprivedtherepresentativesoftheexecutiveofallstabilityandindependence，andbysubjectingthemcompletelytothecapricesofthelegislature，itrobbedthemoftheslenderinfluencewhichthenatureofademocraticgovernmentmighthaveallowedthemtoretain。InseveralStatesthejudicialpowerwasalsosubmittedtotheelectivediscretionofthemajority，andinallofthemitsexistencewasmadetodependonthepleasureofthelegislativeauthority，sincetherepresentativeswereempoweredannuallytoregulatethestipendofthejudges。
　　Custom，however，hasdoneevenmorethanlaw。AproceedingwhichwillintheendsetalltheguaranteesofrepresentativegovernmentatnaughtisbecomingmoreandmoregeneralintheUnitedStates;itfrequentlyhappensthattheelectors，whochooseadelegate，pointoutacertainlineofconducttohim，andimposeuponhimacertainnumberofpositiveobligationswhichheispledgedtofulfil。Withtheexceptionofthetumult，thiscomestothesamethingasifthemajorityofthepopulacehelditsdeliberationsinthemarket—place。
　　SeveralothercircumstancesconcurinrenderingthepowerofthemajorityinAmericanotonlypreponderant，butirresistible。
　　Themoralauthorityofthemajorityispartlybaseduponthenotionthatthereismoreintelligenceandmorewisdominagreatnumberofmencollectedtogetherthaninasingleindividual，andthatthequantityoflegislatorsismoreimportantthantheirquality。Thetheoryofequalityisinfactappliedtotheintellectofman:andhumanprideisthusassailedinitslastretreatbyadoctrinewhichtheminorityhesitatetoadmit，andinwhichtheyveryslowlyconcur。Likeallotherpowers，andperhapsmorethanallotherpowers，theauthorityofthemanyrequiresthesanctionoftime;atfirstitenforcesobediencebyconstraint，butitslawsarenotrespecteduntiltheyhavelongbeenmaintained。
　　Therightofgoverningsociety，whichthemajoritysupposesitselftoderivefromitssuperiorintelligence，wasintroducedintotheUnitedStatesbythefirstsettlers，andthisidea，whichwouldbesufficientofitselftocreateafreenation，hasnowbeenamalgamatedwiththemannersofthepeopleandtheminorincidentsofsocialintercourse。
　　TheFrench，undertheoldmonarchy，helditforamaxim（whichisstillafundamentalprincipleoftheEnglishConstitution）thattheKingcoulddonowrong;andifhediddowrong，theblamewasimputedtohisadvisers。Thisnotionwashighlyfavorabletohabitsofobedience，anditenabledthesubjecttocomplainofthelawwithoutceasingtoloveandhonorthelawgiver。TheAmericansentertainthesameopinionwithrespecttothemajority。
　　Themoralpowerofthemajorityisfoundeduponyetanotherprinciple，whichis，thattheinterestsofthemanyaretobepreferredtothoseofthefew。Itwillreadilybeperceivedthattherespecthereprofessedfortherightsofthemajoritymustnaturallyincreaseordiminishaccordingtothestateofparties。
　　Whenanationisdividedintoseveralirreconcilablefactions，theprivilegeofthemajorityisoftenoverlooked，becauseitisintolerabletocomplywithitsdemands。
　　IfthereexistedinAmericaaclassofcitizenswhomthelegislatingmajoritysoughttodepriveofexclusiveprivilegeswhichtheyhadpossessedforages，andtobringdownfromanelevatedstationtotheleveloftheranksofthemultitude，itisprobablethattheminoritywouldbelessreadytocomplywithitslaws。ButastheUnitedStateswerecolonizedbymenholdingequalrankamongstthemselves，thereisasyetnonaturalorpermanentsourceofdissensionbetweentheinterestsofitsdifferentinhabitants。
　　Therearecertaincommunitiesinwhichthepersonswhoconstitutetheminoritycanneverhopetodrawoverthemajoritytotheirside，becausetheymustthengiveuptheverypointwhichisatissuebetweenthem。Thus，anaristocracycanneverbecomeamajoritywhilstitretainsitsexclusiveprivileges，anditcannotcedeitsprivilegeswithoutceasingtobeanaristocracy。
　　IntheUnitedStatespoliticalquestionscannotbetakenupinsogeneralandabsoluteamanner，andallpartiesarewillingtorecognizetherightofthemajority，becausetheyallhopetoturnthoserightstotheirownadvantageatsomefuturetime。
　　Themajoritythereforeinthatcountryexercisesaprodigiousactualauthority，andamoralinfluencewhichisscarcelylesspreponderant;noobstaclesexistwhichcanimpedeorsomuchasretarditsprogress，orwhichcaninduceittoheedthecomplaintsofthosewhomitcrushesuponitspath。Thisstateofthingsisfatalinitselfanddangerousforthefuture。
　　HowTheUnlimitedPowerOfTheMajorityIncreasesInAmericaTheInstabilityOfLegislationAndAdministrationInherentInDemocracyTheAmericansincreasethemutabilityofthelawswhichisinherentindemocracybychangingthelegislatureeveryyear，andbyinvestingitwithunboundedauthority—Thesameeffectisproducedupontheadministration—InAmericasocialameliorationisconductedmoreenergeticallybutlessperseveringlythaninEurope。
　　Ihavealreadyspokenofthenaturaldefectsofdemocraticinstitutions，andtheyallofthemincreaseattheexactratioofthepowerofthemajority。Tobeginwiththemostevidentofthemall;themutabilityofthelawsisanevilinherentindemocraticgovernment，becauseitisnaturaltodemocraciestoraisementopowerinveryrapidsuccession。Butthisevilismoreorlesssensibleinproportiontotheauthorityandthemeansofactionwhichthelegislaturepossesses。
　　InAmericatheauthorityexercisedbythelegislativebodiesissupreme;nothingpreventsthemfromaccomplishingtheirwisheswithcelerity，andwithirresistiblepower，whilsttheyaresuppliedbynewrepresentativeseveryyear。Thatistosay，thecircumstanceswhichcontributemostpowerfullytodemocraticinstability，andwhichadmitofthefreeapplicationofcapricetoeveryobjectintheState，arehereinfulloperation。Inconformitywiththisprinciple，Americais，atthepresentday，thecountryintheworldwherelawslasttheshortesttime。
　　AlmostalltheAmericanconstitutionshavebeenamendedwithinthecourseofthirtyyears:thereisthereforenotasingleAmericanStatewhichhasnotmodifiedtheprinciplesofitslegislationinthatlapseoftime。Asforthelawsthemselves，asingleglanceuponthearchivesofthedifferentStatesoftheUnionsufficestoconvinceonethatinAmericatheactivityofthelegislatorneverslackens。NotthattheAmericandemocracyisnaturallylessstablethananyother，butthatitisallowedtofollowitscapriciouspropensitiesintheformationofthelaws。
　　*b[Footnoteb:ThelegislativeactspromulgatedbytheStateofMassachusettsalone，fromtheyear1780tothepresenttime，alreadyfillthreestoutvolumes;anditmustnotbeforgottenthatthecollectiontowhichIalludewaspublishedin1823，whenmanyoldlawswhichhadfallenintodisusewereomitted。TheStateofMassachusetts，whichisnotmorepopulousthanadepartmentofFrance，maybeconsideredasthemoststable，themostconsistent，andthemostsagaciousinitsundertakingsofthewholeUnion。]
　　Theomnipotenceofthemajority，andtherapidaswellasabsolutemannerinwhichitsdecisionsareexecutedintheUnitedStates，hasnotonlytheeffectofrenderingthelawunstable，butitexercisesthesameinfluenceupontheexecutionofthelawandtheconductofthepublicadministration。Asthemajorityistheonlypowerwhichitisimportanttocourt，allitsprojectsaretakenupwiththegreatestardor，butnosoonerisitsattentiondistractedthanallthisardorceases;whilstinthefreeStatesofEuropetheadministrationisatonceindependentandsecure，sothattheprojectsofthelegislatureareputintoexecution，althoughitsimmediateattentionmaybedirectedtootherobjects。
　　InAmericacertainameliorationsareundertakenwithmuchmorezealandactivitythanelsewhere;inEuropethesameendsarepromotedbymuchlesssocialeffort，morecontinuouslyapplied。
　　Someyearsagoseveralpiousindividualsundertooktoamelioratetheconditionoftheprisons。Thepublicwasexcitedbythestatementswhichtheyputforward，andtheregenerationofcriminalsbecameaverypopularundertaking。Newprisonswerebuilt，andforthefirsttimetheideaofreformingaswellasofpunishingthedelinquentformedapartofprisondiscipline。Butthishappyalteration，inwhichthepublichadtakensoheartyaninterest，andwhichtheexertionsofthecitizenshadirresistiblyaccelerated，couldnotbecompletedinamoment。
　　Whilstthenewpenitentiarieswerebeingerected（anditwasthepleasureofthemajoritythattheyshouldbeterminatedwithallpossiblecelerity），theoldprisonsexisted，whichstillcontainedagreatnumberofoffenders。Thesejailsbecamemoreunwholesomeandmorecorruptinproportionasthenewestablishmentswerebeautifiedandimproved，formingacontrastwhichmayreadilybeunderstood。Themajoritywassoeagerlyemployedinfoundingthenewprisonsthatthosewhichalreadyexistedwereforgotten;andasthegeneralattentionwasdivertedtoanovelobject，thecarewhichhadhithertobeenbestowedupontheothersceased。Thesalutaryregulationsofdisciplinewerefirstrelaxed，andafterwardsbroken;sothatintheimmediateneighborhoodofaprisonwhichborewitnesstothemildandenlightenedspiritofourtime，dungeonsmightbemetwithwhichremindedthevisitorofthebarbarityoftheMiddleAges。
　　ChapterXV:UnlimitedPowerOfMajority，AndItsConsequences—
　　PartII
　　TyrannyOfTheMajorityHowtheprincipleofthesovereigntyofthepeopleistobeunderstood—Impossibilityofconceivingamixedgovernment—Thesovereignpowermustcentresomewhere—Precautionstobetakentocontrolitsaction—TheseprecautionshavenotbeentakenintheUnitedStates—Consequences。
　　Iholdittobeanimpiousandanexecrablemaximthat，politicallyspeaking，apeoplehasarighttodowhatsoeveritpleases，andyetIhaveassertedthatallauthorityoriginatesinthewillofthemajority。AmIthen，incontradictionwithmyself？
　　Agenerallaw—whichbearsthenameofJustice—hasbeenmadeandsanctioned，notonlybyamajorityofthisorthatpeople，butbyamajorityofmankind。Therightsofeverypeopleareconsequentlyconfinedwithinthelimitsofwhatisjust。A
　　nationmaybeconsideredinthelightofajurywhichisempoweredtorepresentsocietyatlarge，andtoapplythegreatandgenerallawofjustice。Oughtsuchajury，whichrepresentssociety，tohavemorepowerthanthesocietyinwhichthelawsitappliesoriginate？