Astheprincipleonwhichconstitutionsarenowformedrejectsallhereditarypretensionstogovernment,italsorejectsallthatcatalogueofassumptionsknownbythenameofprerogatives。
Ifthereisanygovernmentwhereprerogativesmightwithapparentsafetybeentrustedtoanyindividual,itisinthefederalgovernmentofAmerica。ThepresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaiselectedonlyforfouryears。Heisnotonlyresponsibleinthegeneralsenseoftheword,butaparticularmodeislaiddownintheconstitutionfortryinghim。Hecannotbeelectedunderthirty—fiveyearsofage;andhemustbeanativeofthecountry。
InacomparisonofthesecaseswiththeGovernmentofEngland,thedifferencewhenappliedtothelatteramountstoanabsurdity。InEnglandthepersonwhoexercisesprerogativeisoftenaforeigner;alwayshalfaforeigner,andalwaysmarriedtoaforeigner。Heisneverinfullnaturalorpoliticalconnectionwiththecountry,isnotresponsibleforanything,andbecomesofageateighteenyears;yetsuchapersonispermittedtoformforeignalliances,withouteventheknowledgeofthenation,andtomakewarandpeacewithoutitsconsent。
Butthisisnotall。Thoughsuchapersoncannotdisposeofthegovernmentinthemannerofatestator,hedictatesthemarriageconnections,which,ineffect,accomplishagreatpartofthesameend。HecannotdirectlybequeathhalfthegovernmenttoPrussia,buthecanformamarriagepartnershipthatwillproducealmostthesamething。Undersuchcircumstances,itishappyforEnglandthatsheisnotsituatedontheContinent,orshemight,likeHolland,fallunderthedictatorshipofPrussia。Holland,bymarriage,isaseffectuallygovernedbyPrussia,asiftheoldtyrannyofbequeathingthegovernmenthadbeenthemeans。
ThepresidencyinAmerica（or,asitissometimescalled,theexecutive）