“There is nothing in which mankind have been more unanimous; yet nothing can be inferred from it more than this, that the multitude have always been credulous, and the few artful.” -John Adams
The quote from John Adams reproduced above most closely represents the Founder’s reasoning behind which Constitutional principle?
Separation of powers
Consent of the governed
Freedom of Speech
A bicameral legislature
My first instinct is that the multitude refers to the people or the "governed."
Freedom of speech
It is not Freedom on Speech
It is seperation of powers
To determine the most suitable answer based on John Adams' quote, we need to analyze the content of the quote and link it to one of the mentioned Constitutional principles.
The quote from John Adams suggests that while there is something on which mankind has always been unanimous, it doesn't necessarily imply anything significant beyond the fact that the majority of people tend to be credulous, or easily convinced, while only a few individuals are artful or cunning.
Among the given options, the Constitutional principle that best aligns with this line of reasoning is the separation of powers. This principle refers to the division of government authority into three separate branches - the executive, legislative, and judicial branches - in order to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and to establish a system of checks and balances.
The reasoning behind the separation of powers is rooted in the idea that the majority of people can be easily swayed or influenced, while a select few may possess the skills to manipulate and deceive. Therefore, by dividing power among different branches, it minimizes the risk of concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals, providing a system that is less susceptible to abuse of authority.
So, the answer that most closely represents John Adams' reasoning in the quote would be "Separation of powers."