Chapter IV

Different Forms of Government. Monarchy; Aristocracy; Democracy; Republic.

§1. Governments have existed in a great variety of forms. The earliest governments of which we have any knowledge, are the patriarchal. _Patriarch_, from the Greek, _pater_, father, and _arkos_, chief, or head, means the father and ruler of a family. This kind of government prevailed in the early ages of the world, and in a state of society in which the people dwelt together in families or tribes, and were not yet formed into states or nations. The patriarchal government existed before the flood, and for a long period afterward. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the fathers of the Hebrew race, as also the sons of Jacob, the heads of the twelve tribes, were called patriarchs.

§2. After their departure from Egypt, the government of the Hebrews was a _theocracy_. This word is from _theos_, God, and _kratos_, power, and signifies a government by the immediate direction of God. The laws by which they were governed were given to them on Mount Sinai by God himself, their leader and king. This theocratic form of government, with some changes, existed until the coming of the Messiah.

§3. But the forms of government which have most prevailed, are designated by the terms, monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy, or republic. These words severally indicate by what persons, and in what manner, the governing power of a state is exercised. This power is usually called the _sovereign_, or _supreme_ power. Where kings rule, they are called sovereign; and where the power is in the hands of the people, the people are sovereign. In the strict sense of the term, however, entire sovereignty, or supreme power, exists only where power is exercised by one man, or a single body of men, uncontrolled or unrestrained by laws or by any other power. But in a more general sense, it is that power in a state which is superior to all other powers within the same.

§4. A form of government in which the supreme power is in the hands of one person, is called a monarchy. The word _monarch_ is from two Greek words, _monos_ sole or only, and _arkos_, a chief; and is a general name for a single ruler, whether he is called king, emperor, or prince. A government in which all power resides in or proceeds from one person, is an _absolute_ monarchy. If the power of the monarch is restrained by laws or by some other power, it is called a _limited_ monarchy.

§5. A monarchy is called _hereditary_ in which the throne passes from father to son, or from the monarch to his successor, by inheritance. On the death of a sovereign, the eldest son is usually heir to the crown; or if there is no son, it falls to the daughter, or some other relative. A monarchy is _elective_, where, on the death of the ruler, his successor is appointed by an election. A few such monarchies have existed.

§6. An absolute monarchy is sometimes called _despotism_. The word _despot_ is from the Greek, and means _master_, or _lord_. It has nearly the same meaning as _tyrant_, which also is from the Greek, and signifies _king_. These words at first meant simply a single ruler. They are now applied, for the most part, to rulers who exercise authority over their subjects with severity. In an absolute despotism, the monarch has entire control over his subjects. They have no law but the will of the ruler, who has at command a large force of armed men to keep his people in subjection. The governments of Russia and Turkey are highly despotic.

§7. An _aristocracy_ is a form of government in which the power is exercised by a privileged order of men, distinguished for their rank and wealth. The word _aristocracy_ is from the Greek word _aristos_, best, and _kratos_, power, or _krateo_, to govern; and means a government of the best. It is also used for the nobility of a country under a monarchical government. _Nobles_ are persons of rank above the common people, and bear some title of honor. The titles of the English nobility are those of duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron. These titles are hereditary, being derived from birth. In some cases they are conferred upon persons by the king.

§8. A _democracy_ is a government of the people; the word democracy being from the Greek _demos_, the people, and _krateo_, to govern. In a government purely democratic, the great body of freemen meet in one assembly to make and execute the laws. There were some such governments in ancient Greece; but they necessarily comprised small territories, scarcely more than a single town. The freemen of a state could not all meet in a single assembly.

§9. The government of this country, though a government of the people, is not one of the kind just described; it is a republic. A _republic_ is a government in which the power to enact and execute the laws is exercised by representatives, who are persons elected by the people to act for them. Yet, as not only the election of representatives, but the adoption of the constitution or form of government itself is the act of the people; and as, therefore, all power comes from the people, the government is also democratic; and is properly called a _democratic republic_, or a _representative democracy_.

§10. A republic is sometimes also called a _commonwealth_. _Common_ signifies general, and is applied to what belongs to or is used by the people generally. _Weal_ means welfare or happiness. _Wealth_ also was formerly sometimes used for weal. Hence _commonwealth_ means strictly the _common good_, or the _common happiness_. In a general sense it signifies a state; but it is properly applied to a free state, one in which the people enjoy common rights and privileges. Hence every state in the union is a commonwealth or republic.

State Governments.