People in United Kingdom

Meaning of People

The following is an old definition of People [1]: Ordinarily, the entire body of the inhabitants of a State. In a political sense, that portion of the inhabitants who are intrusted with political power; the qualified voters. The words ” the people ” must be determined by the connection. In some cases they refer to the qualified voters, in others to the state in its sovereign capacity. The United States government proceeds directly, from the people; is ” ordained and established ” in the name of the people. It is emphatically and truly a government of the people. In form and substance it emanates from them. Its powers are granted by them, and are to be exercised directly on them, and for their benefit. Under our system, the ” people,” who in England are called ” subjects,” constitute the sovereign. The simple word ” people ” is sometimes applied to a nation or foreign power. When the constitution of a State directs that processes shall run in the name of the State, a process in the name of the ” people ” will be held deficient, not- withstanding the form be statutory. See Citizen; Country; Government; Lex, Salus, etc.; Magistrate; Nation; Sovereignty; State, 3: Welfare,

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Notes and References

1. Concept of People provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)