Thoughts Upon Government

by Arthur Helps

Overview

Reprint of the original, first published in 1872. The publishing house Anatiposi publishes historical books as reprints. Due to their age, these books may have missing pages or inferior quality. Our aim is to preserve these books and make them available to the public so that they do not get lost.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783385243712
Publisher:	Outlook Verlag
Publication date:	01/28/2024
Pages:	258
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

Read an Excerpt

I CHAPTER IV. LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATION. SUPPOSE it will be admitted by every- Chap. iv. one, who has considered the subject of - government, that these two functionslegis- Difference between lation and administrationare totally dif- legislation and admi- ferent in character. And, moreover, it must nistration. be observed that the same body which will perform one of these important functions well, is seldom or never so constituted as to fulfil the other equally well. Then there arises the difficult question, of how far a legislative body should interfere Limits of with the administrative body, to insure that the legislation it has enacted should be thoroughly carried out. I submit that this interference should be the least possible. It is to be carefully remembered, that there are various sources of temptation attaching to a legislative ment. Chap, body, prompting them to interfere unreason- '' ably with administration. There is, first, the natural suspicion pervading the whole body, Parha- 3. if its legislation does not answer, it is ments o because its yoke-fellowthe administrative bodyhas not acted in full accordance with ment. the letter, or the spirit, of the enactments in question. Then there is the vanity, or the diseased activity, or the desire for prominence, which induces members of the legislature to busy themselves needlessly in interference with the executive. The action caused by these motives should be steadily resisted, otherwise great mischief may ensue, and indeed does take place at the present time. Evils of Needless returns are called for, occupying the question- time and attention of public Offices which ing in 1'ariia- ought to be otherwise employed;needless ntanf ' questi...