"Were I to define the British constitution, therefore, I should say it is a limited monarchy, or a mixture of the three forms of government commonly known in the schools [monarchical, aristocratical, and democratical] ... And it is [the] reservation of fundamentals, of the right of giving instructions, and of new elections, which creates a popular check, upon the whole government which alone secures the constitution from becoming an aristocracy, or a mixture of monarchy and aristocracy only." | by: | John Adams
(1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President |
Source: | Boston Gazette, 27 Jan 1766, Adams Papers, V I, pp 167-168 |
| |
