Abstract

TIMMERMANN, Andreas. The concept of "moderate government" as the driving force of early constitutionalism in Spanish America. Estud. hist. mod. contemp. Mex [online]. 2012, n.44, pp.3-48. ISSN 0185-2620.

This paper highlights a crucial aspect that has arguably receivedinsufficient consideration: that early constitutionalism in Spanish America followed a central, overarching idea linking the various forms of State and Government to the Spanish monarchy and guided pres-identialism. This idea was rooted both in the Iberian legal tradition and in the North American and Anglo Saxon legal system. The principle of moderation, known as "moderate government" in the sphere of institutionalism, is involved here.

Keywords : Moderate government; moderate monarchy; presidentialism; Spanish liberalism; Latin American liberalism; checks and balances; neutral power; conservatives.

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