Herbert Hoover Quotes

A president's power is limited. We need to vote down the ballot as well, from your councilman all the way up to your governors and congressman.

In a certain sense, and to a certain extent, he [the president] is the representative of the people. He is elected by them, as well as congress is. But can he, in the nature [of] things, know the wants of the people, as well as three hundred other men, coming from all the various localities of the nation? If so, where is the propriety of having a congress?

We represent our constituents. And so they don't get to dictate policy.

Political leaders or governments owe their position partly to force and partly to popular election. They cannot be regarded as representative of best elements, morally or intellectually, in their respective nations.

That's what the Senate is about. It's the last bastion of minority rights, where a minority can be heard, where a minority can stand on its feet, one individual if necessary, and speak until he falls into the dust.

I think the American people should express their preferences, and we'll accept their choice.

What's the point of elections if everything is already decided?

Government is not a bottom line enterprise. You can get yourself elected ... but you can't fire the legislature if they won't do what you want.

The strength of representative democracy is its ability to slow down those in power who wish to govern by blank cheque, but also those not in power who wish to yank the state about on the sole basis of their self-interest.

Democracy is a slow and complex process …. Democracy is counter-intuitive. Democracy takes time to learn. It takes years or even decades to take on the habits of democracy…. If you jump too fast, the wrong people come to power…. Yes democracy, but democracy slow.

Voters do not decide issues. They decide who will decide issues.

the only vehicle through which we can get a clear-cut and unequivocal decision of the people.]

The people never have and never will be able to understand how the will of a majority of the House of Representatives can be set aside by the judgment of a few men on a powerful committee.

It is rotation in office that will perpetuate our liberty.

Voting is the first duty of democracy.

Your vote is your voice.

… a permanent Council of the ablest men chosen by the people

In order to prevent those, who are vested with authority, from becoming oppressors, the people have a right, at such periods and in such manner as they shall establish by their frame of government, to cause their public officers to return to private life; and to fill up vacant places by certain and regular elections and appointments.

Congress is the voice, the conscience, and the judgment of the American people

The wisdom and discretion of Congress ... are the restraints on which the people must often rely solely, in all representative governments

The process of our democracy must not be imperiled by the denial of essential powers of free government.

A weapon that comes down as still As snowflakes fall upon the sod ;, But executes a freeman’s will, As lightning does the will of God; And from its force, nor doors nor locks Can shield you;—’tis the ballot box.

How is it the community can check ? The community can act only when assembled; and when assembled, it is incapable of acting. The community, however, can choose representatives.

The speakership isn't a dictatorship.

The collective judgement of the Congress, with all its faults, could be superior to that of one man who makes the final decision, in the executive.