Malcolm Rivera
John C. Calhoun was a prominent political figure and slave owner in the 19th century, whose ideas about states' rights and just constitutions attracted increasing attention across the South. Calhoun's views on the role of government and the necessity of constitutions were outlined in his works A Disquisition on Government and A Discourse on the Constitution and Government of the United States. In these works, he argued that the right of suffrage, or the responsibility of rulers to the ruled, was indispensable for the foundation of a constitutional government. He also proposed the idea of a concurrent majority, where each interest group within a community has a veto power in collective decision-making processes, ensuring that no single group can oppress the others. This, according to Calhoun, was essential for a just constitution and for preventing tyranny of the majority over the minority.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conception of the nature and object of government | Clear and just |
| Liberty | Indispensable for progress, improvement, and civilization |
| Security | Indispensable for progress, improvement, and civilization |
| Resistance to oppression and abuse of power | Indispensable step towards forming a constitutional government |
| Right of suffrage | Indispensable and primary principle in the foundation of a constitutional government |
| Responsibility of rulers to the ruled | Indispensable and primary principle in the foundation of a constitutional government |
| Consent of each part of society | Necessary to prevent the majority from enriching itself at the expense of the minority |
| Concurrent majority | Necessary to prevent tyranny of the majority over the minority |
| Equilibrium of power | Necessary to prevent the strongest department from absorbing and concentrating power |
| States' rights | Necessary to preserve sovereignty and self-government |
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What You'll Learn
The necessity of a constitution
John C. Calhoun was a major force in American politics, with a particular focus on the philosophy of government and the role of the constitution. In his work, "A Disquisition on Government", Calhoun discusses the nature of government and the role of the constitution in maintaining a just society.
For Calhoun, the constitution is indispensable because it serves as a check on the power of the government. He argues that while government is necessary for society to function, it also has a strong tendency towards disorder and abuse of its powers. The constitution, therefore, acts as a safeguard against oppression and abuse of power by the rulers. It provides the ruled with the means to resist and correct any such tendencies by the rulers. This idea of legal resistance is what Calhoun calls the "responsibility of the rulers to the ruled, through the right of suffrage".
Calhoun also emphasizes the importance of the concurrent majority in his philosophy. He argues that a legitimate republican government should not be based solely on rule by the numerical majority but should also take into account all "interests" in the polity. This, he claims, can be achieved by giving each interest a "negative" or veto in collective decision-making processes. By doing so, the concurrent majority promotes deliberation and compromise, even on divisive issues, and protects the rights and safety of all interests in the community.
In addition to his ideas on the concurrent majority and the role of the constitution, Calhoun also had strong views on states' rights and slavery. He argued that the states preceded the Union and that they retained their confederated character even after ratifying the constitution. This interpretation of the constitution as a compact between the states gave rise to his doctrine of nullification, which asserted the right of states to judge and resist the federal government's infractions. Calhoun's ideas on states' rights and slavery proved appealing to Southerners concerned with preserving slavery, as they provided an intellectual justification for their cause.
In conclusion, John C. Calhoun's philosophy on the necessity of a constitution stems from his belief in the tendency of government to oppress and abuse its powers. The constitution, for Calhoun, acts as a check on this power, providing the ruled with the means to resist and correct any such tendencies. His ideas on the concurrent majority and states' rights further emphasize the importance of protecting the interests of all portions of society and maintaining a just and balanced government.
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The right of suffrage
Historically, in the 18th-century Thirteen Colonies, suffrage was restricted to European men with property qualifications that varied by state. By the time the U.S. Constitution came into effect in 1789, a small number of free Blacks were among the voting citizens in some states. However, the right to vote was not explicitly guaranteed to all citizens until the adoption of the aforementioned amendments.
State constitutions play a crucial role in establishing and protecting the right to vote, with 49 out of 50 state charters recognizing the right to vote in affirmative terms. These constitutions contain articles dedicated to suffrage, elections, and voting rights, and some include additional guarantees, such as ensuring that elections are "free," "equal," or "open." Furthermore, state constitutions address specific aspects of election administration, such as elector registration, ballot secrecy, and legal disputes.
While the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention the right to vote, it does grant Congress and the federal government the power to determine the "Times, Places, and Manner" of congressional elections through the Elections Clause. This power has been used to establish a single national Election Day and mandate single-member congressional districts. Additionally, the Constitution requires all states to have a representative form of government with elections and majority rule.
In summary, the right of suffrage is a fundamental principle that has been shaped by historical and legal developments, resulting in the expansion of voting rights to a broader segment of the population. While the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention the right to vote, it empowers Congress and state governments to regulate elections and protect the voting rights of citizens through legislation and constitutional amendments.
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The responsibility of rulers to the ruled
John C. Calhoun was a major force in American politics, known for his independent ideas and philosophies. His works, including "A Disquisition on Government" and "A Discourse on the Constitution and Government of the United States", contain his mature philosophical interpretations and ideas about the US Constitution and government.
In his writings, Calhoun discusses the indispensable nature of a constitution in preventing the government's tendency towards disorder and abuse of its powers. He argues that the powers vested in the government to prevent injustice and oppression can themselves become instruments of oppression if left unchecked. This is where the concept of a constitution comes into play, providing a system of checks and balances.
Calhoun's ideas about the responsibility of rulers to the ruled are closely tied to his concept of concurrent majority and the right of suffrage. He believed that the right of suffrage, or the right to vote, was essential in holding rulers accountable to those they governed. Suffrage, according to Calhoun, "by rendering those who make and execute the laws responsible to those on whom they operate, prevents the rulers from oppressing the ruled". However, he also recognised that suffrage alone was not enough to prevent tyranny by the majority over the minority.
To address this, Calhoun proposed the idea of a concurrent majority, where each interest or portion of the community has a negative or veto power in collective decision-making processes. This would ensure that no single interest or group could dominate and oppress others. He saw this as a way to merge republicanism, or rule by the people, with federalism, or the sovereignty of the states. In other words, each state, as a party to the Constitution, had the right to judge and resist any deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise of power not delegated to the federal government.
Calhoun's ideas about the responsibility of rulers to the ruled also extended to his views on slavery. He provided an intellectual justification for slavery, arguing that it contributed to the physical and mental well-being of slaves. His ideas about states' rights, including the right to secede, were appealing to Southerners who wished to preserve slavery.
In conclusion, John C. Calhoun's thoughts on the responsibility of rulers to the ruled were centred on the belief that a constitution was indispensable to limit the government's power and prevent oppression. He advocated for the right of suffrage and concurrent majority as mechanisms to hold rulers accountable and prevent tyranny by the majority. His ideas about states' rights and justifications for slavery were influential in shaping the political landscape of his time.
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The concurrent majority
John C. Calhoun was a major force in American politics, with a particular focus on the philosophy of government and the role of the constitution. In his work, "A Disquisition on Government", Calhoun discusses the nature of the "concurrent majority".
Calhoun's central argument is that a just constitution requires both the right of suffrage and the principle of a "concurrent majority". The right of suffrage, he argues, ensures the responsibility of rulers to the ruled, creating a check on the power of those in government. However, he also notes that suffrage alone is not sufficient to prevent the tyranny of the majority over the minority. This is where the principle of a "concurrent majority" comes in.
A "concurrent majority", according to Calhoun, "by making it impossible for any one interest or combination of interests, or class, or order, or portion of the community, to obtain exclusive control, prevents any one of them from oppressing the other". In other words, it ensures that all interests in the polity are taken into account and that no single interest or group can dominate the decision-making process. Each part of society would have "either a concurrent voice in the making and executing of laws, or a veto on their execution".
Calhoun acknowledges that there are objections to the idea of a "concurrent majority", including the difficulty of construction and the potential for delay in decision-making. However, he argues that the need for compromise among diverse interests will ultimately promote the common good and ensure that the rights and safety of all interests are protected.
Calhoun's ideas about the "concurrent majority" were closely tied to his defence of slavery and states' rights. He argued that the "concurrent majority" would give southern states a veto over any attempt to regulate or end slavery, and that it provided an intellectual justification for the preservation of slavery.
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The constitution as a compact
John C. Calhoun was a major force in American politics, with a particular focus on the constitution and states' rights. In his work, "A Discourse on the Constitution and Government of the United States", Calhoun put forth a mature philosophical interpretation of the Constitution and the compact theory of states' rights.
For Calhoun, the constitution was indispensable for maintaining a balance of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial departments. He argued that these departments were not truly independent but were representatives of the states and their populations. If the balance of power was upset between the states and the population, the balance between the departments would also be disrupted.
Calhoun also emphasized the act of ratification as an action taken by the states, not the people. He viewed the Constitution as a compact between the states, with each state being a party to it. This compact theory asserted that states had the right to judge infractions and take action if the federal government overstepped its delegated powers.
Additionally, Calhoun proposed the concept of a concurrent majority as a crucial aspect of a just constitution. He argued that legitimate republican government relied not on rule by numerical majority but on an institutionalized process that considered all "interests" in the polity. This meant giving each interest a "'negative' or veto power in collective decision-making, preventing any single interest or group from oppressing others.
In his view, the right of suffrage was also essential for holding rulers accountable to the ruled. However, he noted that suffrage alone was insufficient to prevent tyranny by the majority. Thus, he advocated for a combination of suffrage and concurrent majority as the twin pillars of a just constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
Calhoun argues that the constitution is indispensable because it prevents the government from oppressing the ruled.
The concurrent majority is the idea that each interest group in society should have a veto in collective decision-making processes. This would prevent any one group from having exclusive control and oppressing others.
Suffrage, or the right to vote, is one of the twin pillars of a just constitution, according to Calhoun. It ensures the responsibility of rulers to the ruled.
Calhoun's idea of a concurrent majority has been criticised as anti-democratic because it allows a minority to overrule the will of the majority. It has also been criticised as impractical and difficult to implement.
