Book II, Chapter 1
Opening definition: three species of government - republican, monarchical, and despotic - foundational taxonomy of the work.
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From The Spirit of Laws by Montesquieu
Montesquieu classifies governments into republican (democratic or aristocratic), monarchical, and despotic, distinguishing each by its nature (who holds power and how) and its animating principle.
Book II, Chapter 2
Defines democratic republic where the people as a body have sovereign power.
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Distinguishes the nature of government (its particular structure) from its principle (the human passions that set it in motion).
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