American Institutions and Their Influence
The American publishers of M. De Tocqueville's Democracy in America, have been frequently solicited to furnish the work in a form adapted to seminaries of learning, and at a price which would secure its more general circulation, and enable trustees of School District Libraries, and other libraries, to place it among their collections. Desirous to attain these objects, they have consulted several gentlemen, in whose judgment they confided, and particularly the editor of the American editions, to ascertain whether the work was capable of abridgment or condensation, so as to bring the expense of its publication within the necessary limits. They are advised that the nature of the work renders it impossible to condense it by omitting any remarks or illustrations of the author upon any subject discussed by him, even if common justice to him did not forbid any such attempt; and that the only mode of reducing its bulk, is to exclude wholly such subjects as are deemed not to be essential.
It will be recollected that the first volume was originally published separately, and was complete in itself. It treated of the influence of democracy upon the political institutions of the United States, and exhibited views of the nature of our government, and of their complicated machinery, so new, so striking, and so just, as to excite the admiration and even the wonder of our countrymen. It was universally admitted to be the best, if not the first systematic and philosophic view of the great principles of our constitutions which has been presented to the world. As a treatise upon the spirit of our governments, it was full and finished, and was deemed worthy of being introduced as a text-book in some of our Seminaries of Learning. The publication of the first volume alone would therefore seem to be sufficient to accomplish in the main the objects of the publishers above stated.
And upon a careful re-examination of the second volume, this impression is confirmed. It is entirely independent of the first volume, and is in no way essential to a full understanding of the principles and views contained in that volume. It discusses the effects of the democratic principle upon the tastes, feelings, habits, and manners of the Americans; and although deeply interesting and valuable, yet the observations of the author on these subjects are better calculated for foreign countries than for our own citizens. As he wrote for Europe they were necessary to his plan. They follow naturally and properly the profound views which had already been presented, and which they carry out and illustrate. But they furnish no new developments of those views, nor any facts that would be new to us.
Alexis de Tocqueville
AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE.
With Notes, by Hon. John C. Spencer.
ADVERTISEMENT.
PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS.
CHAPTER I.
EXTERIOR FORM OF NORTH AMERICA.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE ANGLO-AMERICANS.
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE ANGLO-AMERICANS.
CHAPTER IV.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE IN AMERICA.
CHAPTER V.
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF TOWNSHIPS AND MUNICIPAL BODIES.{63}
LIMITS OF THE TOWNSHIP.
AUTHORITIES OF THE TOWNSHIP IN NEW ENGLAND.
EXISTENCE OF THE TOWNSHIP.
PUBLIC SPIRIT OF THE TOWNSHIPS OF NEW ENGLAND.
THE COUNTIES OF NEW ENGLAND.
ADMINISTRATION IN NEW ENGLAND.
GENERAL REMARKS ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE STATE.
LEGISLATIVE POWER OF THE STATE.
THE EXECUTIVE POWER OF THE STATE.
CHAPTER VI.
OTHER POWERS GRANTED TO THE AMERICAN JUDGES.
CHAPTER VII.
POLITICAL JURISDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
HISTORY OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
SUMMARY OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
PREROGATIVE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
FEDERAL POWERS.
LEGISLATIVE POWERS.
THE EXECUTIVE POWER.{134}
ACCIDENTAL CAUSES WHICH MAY INCREASE THE INFLUENCE OF THE EXECUTIVE.
ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT.
MODE OF ELECTION.
CRISIS OF THE ELECTION.
RE-ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT.
FEDERAL COURTS.{142}
MEANS OF DETERMINING THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS.
DIFFERENT CASES OF JURISDICTION.
PROCEDURE OF THE FEDERAL COURTS.
HIGH RANK OF THE SUPREME COURTS AMONG THE GREAT POWERS OF STATE.
CHAPTER IX.
WHY THE PEOPLE MAY STRICTLY BE SAID TO GOVERN IN THE UNITED STATES.
CHAPTER X.
PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
REMAINS OF THE ARISTOCRATIC PARTY IN THE UNITED STATES.
CHAPTER XI.
LIBERTY OF THE PRESS IN THE UNITED STATES.
CHAPTER XII.
POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
CHAPTER XIII.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA.
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
CAUSES WHICH MAY PARTLY CORRECT THESE TENDENCIES OF THE DEMOCRACY.
PUBLIC OFFICERS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DEMOCRACY OF AMERICA.
INSTABILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
CHARGES LEVIED BY THE STATE UNDER THE RULE OF THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
EFFORTS OF WHICH A DEMOCRACY IS CAPABLE.
SELF-CONTROL OF THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
CONDUCT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS BY THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
CHAPTER XIV.
PUBLIC SPIRIT IN THE UNITED STATES.
NOTION OF RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
RESPECT FOR THE LAW IN THE UNITED STATES.
CHAPTER XV.
TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY.
POWER EXERCISED BY THE MAJORITY IN AMERICA UPON OPINION.
CHAPTER XVI.
CAUSES WHICH MITIGATE THE TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
ABSENCE OF CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION.
CHAPTER XVII.
PRINCIPAL CAUSES WHICH RENDER RELIGION POWERFUL IN AMERICA.
IMPORTANCE OF WHAT PRECEDES WITH RESPECT TO THE STATE OF EUROPE.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CONCLUSION.
APPENDICES
SUMMARY OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS IN THE UNITED STATES.