Local Liberty and Popular Sovereignty in Practice

Key Insight

The principle of popular sovereignty defines the Anglo-American political system, seeing each individual as an equal participant in governance. Individuals obey society out of perceived utility and the need for regulatory power, not because they are inferior. They remain masters of their personal affairs, accountable only to God, with society entitled to direct actions only when injured or requiring cooperation.

This doctrine directly underpins local liberty in the United States. New England towns, where political life first developed, were initially almost independent entities. When English kings established central sovereignty, towns largely retained their existing structures. Consequently, town powers were not granted but were rather a portion of their original independence relinquished to the state, a crucial historical distinction.

Towns are subject to the state only for 'social interests', which are shared concerns. For 'exclusively local interests', towns remain independent, managing property, engaging in legal actions, and controlling budgets without external administrative interference. While the state mandates certain social duties like collecting taxes, building roads, or enforcing public order, towns execute these laws independently. This unique American model contrasts with France, where the central government lends agents to communes; in the U.S., towns lend their officials to the government.