Considerations on Representative Government

John Stuart Mill (1806–73) was a pioneering British politician and social reformer who is considered one of the most influential social and political theorists of the nineteenth century. His works on logic, epistemology, political philosophy, women's legal rights and economics helped shape emerging radical social and political ideas, and ensured his reputation as one of Britain's foremost radical intellectuals. This volume, first published in 1861, contains Mill's discussion of democracy and the ideal system of government. Writing during a turbulent time in British politics, Mill discusses his political theories concerning democracy and his ideal political institutions and their proper functions, and links these with contemporary political questions including franchise reform, and colonial and federal government. His thoughts concerning the limitations of democracy, the links between performing civic duties, education and voting are fully illustrated in this influential volume, which is reissued from the second edition of 1861.

1. To what extent forms of government are a matter of choice; 2. The criterion of a good form of government; 3. That the ideally best form of government is representative government; 4. Under what social conditions representative government is inapplicable; 5. Of the proper functions of representative bodies; 6. Of the infirmities and dangers to which representative government is liable; 7. Of true and false democracy. Representation of all and representation of the majority only; 8. Of the extension of the suffrage; 9. Should there be two stages of election?; 10. Of the mode of voting; 11. Of the duration of Parliaments; 12. Ought pledges to be required from Members of Parliament; 13. Of a second chamber; 14. Of the executive in a representative government; 15. Of local representative bodies; 16. Of nationality, as connected with representative government; 17. Of federal representative governments; 18. Of the government of dependencies by a free state.

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a pioneering British politician and social reformer. First published in 1861, this volume contains Mill's detailed discussion of his theories of democracy and the ideal system of government, in which he links his theories concerning democracy and representative government with contemporary political issues.