宪政与民主的调和与共容——杰斐逊的宪政民主理论体系初探

Harmony Between Constitutionalism and Democracy——Research on the Constitutional Democracy by Thomas Jefferson

杰斐逊的政治思想包含宪政与民主两个要素,并试图在两者之间达成调和,使其共容在一个体系内,这对后来美国宪政民主理论的形成产生了重大的影响。杰斐逊不但主张人民主权,重视多数原则,而且承认代议制、分权制衡以及少数权利原则。正是在调和民主原则和宪政原则的基础上,杰斐逊建立起宪政民主的理论体系。

Thomas Jefferson＇s political thought contains two basic elements of constitutionalism and democracy, and he tried to get a balance between them, which affected the theory of constitutional democracy in USA greatly. Jefferson suggestsed not only popular sovereign and majority rule, but also the principle of representation, protection of minorities and separation of power. Through conciliating the two components in conflict, Jefferson formed the theoretical system of constitutional democracy.