Republican legal theory : the history, constitution, and purposes of law in a free state

Republican Legal Theory discusses the history, constitution and purposes of law in a free state. This is the most comprehensive study since James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and The Federalist of republican legal ideas. Sellers explains the importance of popular sovereignty, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and other essential republican checks and balances in protecting liberty and against tyranny and corruption. In this book Professor Sellers traces the development of republican legal theory. Explaining the importance of popular sovereignty, the rule of law, the separation of powers and other essential republican legal characteristics, he argues that these republican institutions have introduced a new era of justice into politics. Republican Legal doctrine begins with the conviction that the common good of the people provides the only legitimate basis of law, government and the state. The 'republican form of government' has influenced legal innovation since Cicero, and inspired the French and American revolutions, among many others. Developing out of the jurisprudential and constitutional legacy of the Roman res publica, as interpreted over two millennia in Europe and North America, republican legal theory is here given a timely appraisal, with the content of the republican tradition, as well as its modern legal and constitutional importance clarified and examined. In Republican Legal Theory Professor Sellers offers the most comprehensive study to date of republican legal ideas. Explaining the importance of popular sovereignty, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and other essential checks and balances in safeguarding civil liberty, he argues that these institutions have introduced a new era of justice into politics Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 9 1 Introduction......Page 12 2 The Origins of Republican Legal Theory......Page 17 3 Republican Influences on the French and American Revolutions......Page 27 4 Republican Legal Systems......Page 37 5 Republican Impartiality......Page 43 6 Republican Authority......Page 53 7 The Actual Validity of Law......Page 67 8 Ideals of Public Discourse......Page 73 9 Group Rights and Democracy......Page 82 10 Republicanism, Liberalism and the Law......Page 88 11 Basic Elements of Legislative Structure......Page 107 12 History, Liberty and Comparative Law......Page 110 13 Legal Historians and Social Change......Page 113 14 Republican Government in the United States of America......Page 117 15 Republican Principles in International Law......Page 131 16 Conclusion......Page 150 Notes......Page 157 Short Bibliography on Republicanism......Page 197 C......Page 202 D......Page 203 G......Page 204 J......Page 205 M......Page 206 P......Page 207 R......Page 208 S......Page 209 U......Page 210 Z......Page 211 Cover 1 Contents 8 Preface 9 1 Introduction 12 2 The Origins of Republican Legal Theory 17 3 Republican Influences on the French and American Revolutions 27 4 Republican Legal Systems 37 5 Republican Impartiality 43 6 Republican Authority 53 7 The Actual Validity of Law 67 8 Ideals of Public Discourse 73 9 Group Rights and Democracy 82 10 Republicanism, Liberalism and the Law 88 11 Basic Elements of Legislative Structure 107 12 History, Liberty and Comparative Law 110 13 Legal Historians and Social Change 113 14 Republican Government in the United States of America 117 15 Republican Principles in International Law 131 16 Conclusion 150 Notes 157 Short Bibliography on Republicanism 197 Index 202 A 202 B 202 C 202 D 203 E 204 F 204 G 204 H 205 I 205 J 205 K 206 L 206 M 206 N 207 O 207 P 207 Q 208 R 208 S 209 T 210 U 210 V 211 W 211 Z 211 Republican legal theory developed out of the jurisprudential and constitutional legacy of the Roman res publica as interpreted over two millennia in Europe and North America. In this book - the most comprehensive study of republican legal ideas to date - Professor Sellers traces the development of republican legal theory. Explaining the importance of popular sovereignty, the rule of law, the separation of powers and other essential republican legal characteristics, he argues that these republican institutions have introduced a new era of justice into politics.