The most common forms of government are the following:

"1. A despotism; in which arbitrary power is exercised by one man. Despot is a word of Greek origin, signifying master, or lord. At a later period, it became an honorary title, given by the Greek emperors to their sons and sons-in-law, when governors of provinces. At present it means an absolute ruler, as the emperor of Russia. In a narrower sense, it conveys the idea of tyranny. Tyrant, also, is of Greek origin, and has nearly the same meaning as despot, signifying king, or absolute ruler. Neither of these words had originally the bad signification which is now attached to them. But as the possessor of uncontrolled power usually abuses it, they came at length to signify abuser of power. Turkey and Russia are despotic in a high degree. In Turkey the sultan has unlimited control over the property and lives of his subjects, especially the highest officers of state, whom he can remove or put to death at his will. He makes laws without being himself subject to them. He is restrained only by the Koran and the fear of rebellion. The Koran is the bible of the Mahometans, containing the pretended revelations of their prophet. The people have no rights. Such is their ignorance, that they do not seem to know that they could be in a better condition.

2. An aristocracy. This is a form of government in which the supreme power is exercised by privileged

What is a despotism? Give the original signification of the word despot. Its present. Define the word tyrant. Do men who possess uncontrolled power abuse it? What governments are here mentioned as despotic? What is the absolute ruler in Turkey called; and what power does he possess? Who makes the laws in that country? Is he himself subject to them? Is he under any kind of restraint? What is the Koran; and what does it contain? Have the people any rights? What is their condition?

classes, or in which they are allowed a disproportionate share. When tyranny is in the hands of a few, it is called an oligarchy, which is by some thought to be the worst of all governments.

3. A monarchy; which is a state or government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a single person. Such a state is usually called a kingdom, or an empire. This name is generally given to a large state only. But it is sometimes applied to a state or kingdom in which the supreme magistrate is limited by a constitution, or laws. Hence we speak of despotic or absolute monarchies, and of limited or mixed monarchies. Of the latter class are Great Britain and France. In Great Britain, the power is lodged in the hands of a king, nobles, and a body representing in some degree the rights and interests of the great body of the people. The nobility are persons who enjoy a rank above the common people. They claim the highest civil honors and privili, ges by no other right than the right of birth; and, together with the archbishops and bishops, they constitute the house of lords. The house of commons, the representative branch of the legislature, consists of the representatives of cities, boroughs and counties, and are chosen by men possessing the property or qualifications required by law. These two branches of the legislature are called the parliament. In France, the executive power belongs

What is an aristocracy? Who are meant by privileged classes? What is an oligarchy?

What is a monarchy? To what is the name of kingdom or empire given? To what kind of kingdom or state is it sometimes applied? Are all monarchies alike? Of which class

of monarchies are Great Britain and France? In Great Britain, where is the power lodged? Who are the nobility? By what right do they claim their high civil honors and priviliges? How is the house of lords constituted? By what name is the representative branch of the legislature called? Of what does it

to the king. He is commander of the sea and land forces; he declares war, and makes all appointments. The legislative power rests in the king, the chamber of peers, and the chamber of deputies. The king proposes the laws. The peers are nominated by the king; and their dignity was formerly either granted for life, or made hereditary, at his pleasure. But since the revolution of 1830, the hereditary quality of the French peerage has been abolished. The deputies are elected by the electoral colleges; the ministers of state may be members of either chamber.

4. A republic, or commonwealth, the last form of gov ernment which shall be here noticed, is a state in which the sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected, by the people. Such is the government of the United States.

The democracies of Greece are often called republics. A democracy, however, is a government in which the people meet in one assembly, and enact and execute the laws. But this can be done only in a very small community. Our government is therefore a representative republic, because the people, instead of enacting laws in person, elect a small number to represent them. But as political power is retained in the hands of the people, our government may with some propriety be called a democracy.

From the description here given of a mixed monarchy

consist? What are these two branches acting together called? In France, what powers are exercised by the king? How is the legislative power distributed? How do laws originate? By whom are the peers nominated? What is said of their dignity formerly? What is hereditary? When was the French peerage abolished? How are the deputies elected?

What is a republic or commonwealth? What is a democracy? What is the government of the United States properly called Why? In whose hands is political power retained?

and a representative republic, these two forms of govern. ment may appear in a considerable degree similar. But though the king may have no greater power in making laws than the president of the United States, he obtains his power by hereditary right, or right by birth, independent of the suffrages of the people, and often contrary to their wishes. So also with regard to the higher branch of the legislature: its members hold their offices, either by right of birth, or by appointment of the king. And although the lower branch is elective, such have been the qualifications required of the electors, as to throw the legislative power virtually into the hands of the more favored classes. In France, no person was allowed to vote unless he possessed property on which he paid 200 francs of direct taxes; and no person might be elected a representative, whose property was not subject to the payment of 500 francs of direct taxes. So that of a population of 32,000,000, there were less than 220,000 electors. Great Britain, too, the land being owned by a few, and being cultivated by tenants, the number of freeholders is so small, that the election depended chiefly on the richest families. Besides the clergy, who, (in 1822,) possessed about six thousand estates, and the corporations, whose possessions might be reckoned at an equal number, there were in England but about 20,000 landholders, among a population of 13,000,000. The English law which gives to the eldest son all the real estate, is itself suffi

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How does a king obtain his power? How do the members of the higher branches of the legislature obtain theirs? Are not the members of the lower branch elected by the people? How was the elective franchise formerly restricted in France and England?What was the number of landholders in Great Britain in 1822? What English law has tended to prevent the general distribution of landed property?

cient to keep together large masses of landed property. In 1786, there were 250,000 land proprietors. But this unjust distinction between the rich and poor has been in a great degree abolished in England. By an act of reform passed in 1832, the elective franchise was much extended; so that it is at present enjoyed to nearly the same extent it is in the United States. Such has been the progress of republican principles among the governments of Europe, as to cause, in many of them, important changes in favor of the rights of the people.

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Some writers do not allow more than three regular` forms of government: the first, when the sovereign power is lodged in an aggregate assembly, consisting of all the members of a community, which is called a democracy; the second, when it is lodged in a council of select members, and then it is styled an aristocracy; and third, when it is entrusted in the hands of a single person, and then it takes the name of a monarchy. All other kinds, they say, may be reduced to these three. It has been said, and perhaps with propriety, that a monarchy is the strongest form of government; that an aristocracy has the most wisdom; and a democracy the most virtue. But it is believed, that under the representative form of gov ernment, the people may enjoy a greater security of their civil liberties than they can have under any other form. In limited or mixed monarchies there is usually a charter or constitution. A constitution is the fundamental law of a state, whether it be a written instrument of a

How was the elective franchise formerly restricted in England? To what extent is it at present enjoyed?

To what three forms of government do some writers reduce all existing forms? What has been said of the particular characteristies of a monarchy, an aristocracy, and a democracy? Under what form of government may the people enjoy, in the greatest degree, the blessings of liberty?