16. What is the difference between the Constitution and the laws made by the legislature?

The Constitution is the higher law, to which all the laws enacted by the legislature must be conformed.

17. Is there any higher law than the Constitution? The Constitution is the highest human law; but the law of God is the highest of all laws.

18. May not the people who make the Constitution disobey it if they please?

The people, as well as the government, are under obligation to obey the Constitution.

19. May the people change the Constitution?

They may change it in the way pointed out by the Constitution.

20. How does it appear that it is God's will that the people should have government?

It appears from the fact that government is necessary to the existence of society and the well-being of men, and from the Bible.

21. What does the Bible say on the subject?

"The powers that be are ordained of God;" which is the same as saying, "Government is ordained of God."

22. What does the Bible say respecting magistrates?

It commands us "to obey magistrates."

23. Suppose their commands come in conflict with the law of God?

Then "we ought to obey God rather than men."Acts 5:29.

24. Is it ever right to resist the government?
It is sometimes right to resort to revolution.

25. What is meant by the right of revolution? The right to overthrow the government by force, and establish another in its place.

26. When may the right of revolution be resorted to? When the oppression is very great, and the prospect of success good.

AND LAW.

1. Who determine the form of the government?
The people.

2. What are the three forms of government?
Monarchy, aristocracy, and republic.

3. What is a monarchy?

A monarchy is a government by a single person.* 4. What is an absolute monarchy?

One in which all the powers of the government are possessed by the monarch.

5. What is a limited monarchy?

One in which the power of the monarch is limited by the Constitution and laws.

*The titles of the different monarchs of Europe are, Emperor, Czar, or Sultan, the ruler of an empire; King or Queen, of a kingdom; Prince, of a principality; Grand Duke, of a grand duchy; Duke, of a duchy; and Pope, of the popedom."- Worcester.

6. What is an hereditary monarchy?

One in which the oldest surviving son or nearest heir succeeds to the crown on the death of the monarch.

7. What is an elective monarchy?

One in which the monarch is elected by the people, or by some portion of them.

8. What is an aristocracy?

Aristocracy "is a form of government which places the supreme power in the nobles, or the principal persons of the state.”

9. What may be said of this form of government? It is the worst form.

10. What is a republic?

A republic is that form of government in which the power of the state is exercised by agents chosen by the people.

11. What is a democracy?

Democracy is a government by the people.

12. What is a pure democracy?

One in which the power of the state is exercised directly by the people.

13. What is a representative democracy?

A representative democracy does not differ from a republic.

mon

14. Are the three forms of government. archy, aristocracy, and republic always kept separate?

They are not. The three forms are blended in the English government.

15. What is the best form of government?

That which is the best adapted to promote justice and the public prosperity.

16. What should determine the form of a nation's government?

The character and circumstances of the people.

17. For what nations is a republic the best form? Those in which the people are intelligent and moral. 18. Why are representatives chosen?

Because all the people of a nation cannot meet together, and make laws.

19. For what other reason?

Because men selected on account of their wisdom are best qualified to make laws.

20. To whom are the representatives responsible? To the people and to God.

21. Do wise and just laws interfere with liberty? They do not. Civil liberty is the result of law. 22. What can men reasonably claim? Liberty to do right, and protection against wrong. 23. Do laws which restrain a man from doing wrong infringe on his liberty?

They do not; for he has no right to do wrong.

24. What would perfectly wise laws require?

They would require men to do what is just.

25. What would they prohibit?

Everything unjust.

26. What would be the result of perfectly wise laws faithfully executed?

Every one would be at liberty to do right, and would be secure from wrong.

27. If one was free to do right, and secure against wrong, what would he have?

Perfect liberty.

28. What, then, is the relation between liberty and law?

The perfection of law would secure the perfection of liberty.

CHAPTER III.

DESPOTISM.

FREE GOVERNMENT. RIGHT AND

DUTY OF SELF-GOVERNMENT.

1. What is a despotic government?

A government in which the rulers exercise irresponsible power.

2. May a republican government be despotic? Those intrusted with power by the people may, for a time, use that power in a despotic manner.

3. What is the remedy in such a case?

The remedy is found in the ballot-box. Other men must be elected to wield the powers of govern

ment.

4. What is a military despotism?

Government by a military despot whose will is the sole law.

5. What is a free government?

A government of laws securing liberty.

6. May not an absolute despot make wise and just laws?

He may.

7. Would not such laws secure liberty?

They would for the time being; but there would be no security for their continuance.