Where does sovereignty reside under the American constitutions?

OCR: 2 cited passage(s) are machine-read (OCR) text of old printings; quotations reproduce the stored OCR text, misreadings included.

Reporter's notes: some cited speeches survive only as a reporter's shorthand record, not the speaker's own text.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (1776-06-23): James Wilson believed that sovereignty resides with the people, as he argued that all the Powers of Government should be exerted under the Authority of the People. "that it was necessary that every Kind of Authority under the Crown should be totally suppressed, and all the Powers of Government exerted under the Authority of the People" [1]
• BELIEF (1787-11-26; reporter's paraphrase): James Wilson believed that sovereignty resides in the people, not in the state governments. He argued that the people have not parted with their sovereignty but have only dispensed portions of power for the public welfare, and that the Constitution is based on this principle. (key quote above) [2]
• BELIEF (1787-11-26; reporter's paraphrase): James Wilson believed that under the American constitutions, the supreme, absolute, and uncontrollable power resides in the people at large, not in the state governments. He argued that the people have vested certain proportions of this power in the state governments, but the fee-simple remains with the people. (key quote above) [3]
• ACTION (editor's note) (undated; editor's note, not his words): The editor's note lists entries in an index that reference James Wilson's views on the Constitution, including that 'vital principle is sovereignty of people 14' and 'the source of governmental power 374'. "vital principle is sovereignty of people 14" [4]
• ACTION (editor's note) (undated; editor's note, not his words): The editor's note references James Wilson's statement in 1774 regarding the language of the Declaration of Independence, specifically the idea that 'all just powers of government are derived from the consent of the governed.' "language by Wilson, 1774 ii. 508" [5]

What cuts against it

• Nothing in the provided passages cuts against the answer. The record consistently supports the position that sovereignty resides in the people under the American constitutions.

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. James Wilson repeatedly stated that sovereignty resides in the people, not in state governments.

2. He argued that the people have not parted with their sovereignty but have only delegated portions of power for the public welfare.

3. The Constitution, according to Wilson, is based on the principle that the people are the source of governmental authority.

4. He emphasized that the people retain the right to alter or abolish the government if it becomes destructive of their rights.

5. Wilson contrasted the American model with the English model, where liberties are granted by the king, whereas in America, the people are the sovereign source of government.

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

James Wilson directly addressed the question of where sovereignty resides under the American constitutions. He consistently argued that sovereignty resides in the people, not in the state governments.

Extrapolation: Wilson believed that the people are the ultimate source of all governmental power and that state governments derive their authority from the people. He rejected the idea that state governments possess sovereign power independently of the people.

Competing readings: None. The record does not present a competing view from Wilson himself.

Confidence: High. The record provides multiple direct statements from Wilson affirming that sovereignty resides in the people, with no contradictory statements from him.