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  3. Whenever the political laws of the United States are to be discussed, it is with the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people t

Whenever the political laws of the United States are to be discussed, it is with the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people t

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问题     Whenever the political laws of the United States are to be discussed, it is with the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people that we must begin. The principle of the sovereignty of the people, which is always to be found, more or less, at the bottom of almost all human institutions, generally remains there concealed from view. It is obeyed without being recognized, or if for a moment it is brought to light, it is hastily cast back into the gloom of the sanctuary.
    "The will of the nation" is one of those phrases, that have been most largely abused by the wily and the despotic of every age. Some have seen the expression of it in the purchased suffrages of a few of the satellites of power; others, in the votes of a timid or an interested minority; and some have even discovered it in the silence of a people, on the supposition that the fact of submission established the right to command.
    In America the principle of the sovereignty of the people is neither barren nor concealed, as it is with some other nations; it is recognized by the customs and proclaimed by the laws; it spreads freely, and arrives without impediment at its most remote consequences. If there is a country in the world where the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people can be fairly appreciated, where it can be studied in its application to the affairs of society, and where its dangers and its advantages may be judged, that country is assuredly America.
    It has been observed that, from their origin, the sovereignty of the people was the fundamental principle of most of the British colonies in America. It was far, however, from then exercising as much influence on the government of society as it now does. Two obstacles, the one external, the other internal, checked its invasive progress.
    It could not ostensibly disclose itself in the laws of colonies which were still forced to obey the mother country, it was therefore obliged to rule secretly in the provincial assemblies, and especially in the townships. American society at that time was not yet prepared to adopt it with all its consequences. Intelligence in New England and wealth tended to keep the exercise of social power in the hands of a few. Not all the public functionaries were chosen by popular vote, nor were all the citizens voters. The electoral franchise was everywhere somewhat restricted and made dependent on a certain qualification. Which was very low in the North and more considerable in the South.
    The American Revolution broke out, and the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people came out of the townships and took possession of the state. Every class was enlisted in its cause; battles were fought and victories obtained for it; it became the law of the laws.
Geographically, the author observed the internal power struggle in the colonies based on_____.
选项 A、dissent over the mother country
B、elitism
C、a debate over consequences
D、the disclosure of laws
答案A
解析 根据倒数第二段的“It could not ostensibly disclose itself in the laws of colonieswhich were still forced to obey the mother country, it was therefore obliged to rule secretly inthe provincial assemblies，and especially in the townships．American society at that time wasnot yet prepared to adopt it with all its consequences．”可知，在殖民地的法律中，它不能明显地表明自己。这些殖民地仍被迫服从其宗主国，因而它不得不在省议会，特别是在各乡镇秘密地进行统治。当时的美国社会还没有准备好接受主权在民所带来的种种后果。据此可知，从地理方面来看，殖民地内部的权力斗争主要基于其与宗主国的分歧，所以正确答案是A选项。
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