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Devoted Citizens: Ancient Greece and the American Founding

“…This, perhaps, ill-affected and factious men may spread amongst the people, when the prince only makes uses of his due prerogative. To this I reply, The people shall be judge; for who shall be judge…but he who deputes him…" 89 Hobbes notably disagrees with this point, arguing that "there can happen no breach of covenant on the part of the sovereign," and furthermore, that a sovereign was just in every action because "all that is done by such power, is warranted, and owned by every one of the people; and that which every man will have so, no man can say is unjust." 90 For this reason, the civic republican tradition has a closer association with Locke, while it seems at great odds with Hobbes.…”

“…86 Locke's argument is that political power originates from the subjects, giving the subjects the power to alter the legislative body or remove it at any time, and thus keeping power in the subject's hand. 87 "And thus the community perpetually retains a supreme power to remove or alter the legislation." 88 Locke however, does not provide the idea central to the republican tradition of thought -that citizenship is defined by the right to rule.…”

“…The states believed their role in the creation of the federation gave them ultimate discretion in interpreting the Constitution, and the right to prevent the national government from interfering in their sphere. 87 The Constitutional amendments gave the states the power to govern in their sphere, while the national government had the "burden" to prove its authority. 88 The states believed that the national government possessed only the powers necessary to make the union function: the Constitution had been established for the sole purpose of creating national standards, providing for protection of the states, and handling interstate relations.…”

“…During the nineteenth century, a state would have viewed federal funding for highways or canals as unconstitutional. 89 Culturally as well, the idea that the states had greater rights, roles, and responsibilities than the national government was widely held throughout the America. In a nineteenth century study of American government, James Bryce declared that "a state commands the allegiance of its citizens…" 90 The Constitution, for example, was not as widely known as the Declaration of Independence, a document that taught quite a different message.…”