Acceso usuarios
A central question of political theory has long been how to reconcile the democratic ideal – where the people rule – with the reality of poli- tical power that is restrained and limited in various ways. This question has recently been raised in the debate on the European Union's “ democratic deficit ” . A neo-Madisonian discourse has emerged that identifies in the EU's multi-level governance a contemporary version of Madison's separation of powers and checks and balances. This article develops a critique of this discourse by revisiting Madison's writings and highlighting his republican vision of democratic legitimacy whereby institu- tional limitations to power are legitimized through their relationship with the principle of popular sovereignty.
