As a
safeguard against any miscarriage of the public will, the right of
petition was guaranteed. In some instances the right of referendum and
recall was provided. To obviate any miscarriage of justice, provision
was made for courts, responsible to the citizenry, as an independent arm
of government competent to protect and assert popular rights.
Overall, citizens of the republic, through duly elected representatives,
would draw up and proclaim a constitution containing a general plan of
the governmental machinery. When adopted by the legislature or
parliament this constitution became the law of the land. Governmental
activities were carried out and laws were enacted in conformity with
constitutional provisions. In practice the citizens of the freest
republic were face to face with one of the oldest political dilemmas
confronting mankind: the question of leadership and followership.
In almost any social situation, from trivial to grave and critical, some
one woman or man volunteers advice and often initiates action. If no one
approves, the initiative falls flat. If there is a chorus of approval,
the crowd follows the lead of its spokesman. If some approve while
others disapprove or remain silent, a show of hands is in order. If
there are real differences in the group, some taking one side, some
another side with no chance of common action, the group may divide into
several factions, some remaining in the assemblage, others departing,
with their spokesmen leading the way.
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