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？