| One of the influences on the American Founding was a text by Cicero called De Res Publica, which recommended a mixed form of government, with democratic, aristocratic, and monarchical elements, in order to enjoy some of the advantages of each, while limiting the excesses. This became, roughly, the idea behind "liberal democracy", which is contrasted with simple majoritarianism by the presence of constitutional limitations on the discretion of the majority, and guarantees of ineradicable minority rights. The analogy is with constitutional monarchy, where the demos is the functional equivalent of the sovereign, and the constitution provides insurance against gross abuse of power. Although there are divergent solutions to the problems posed by democracy throughout the world, the United States and Great Britain have provided the main models, France having been too unstable in its history. The bicameral legislature, the use of executive veto, the maintenance of an independent judiciary, the guarantee of freedom of speech, press, and assembly, and other features of liberal democracy have become ubiquitous in states attempting to establish legitimacy under the rule of law. |
