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How did the original United States Constitution limit majority rule?
Quick answer:
The original United States Constitution limited majority rule by restricting direct elections to only the House of Representatives, thereby reducing the public's direct influence on other government branches. Additionally, it imposed constraints on government powers, such as prohibiting the regulation of intrastate commerce and the passage of bills of attainder, regardless of majority preference. These measures served to check majority rule and protect minority rights.
The Constitution did this in a number of ways.
First, it limited the influence that people would have over the government. It allowed the people to directly elect the House of Representatives, but it did not allow direct elections of any other part of the government. This would help to inhibit majority rule.
Second, it placed a number of restrictions on what the government could do. It did not give it the right to regulate commerce within any state, regardless of what the majority wanted. It did not give it the right to pass bills of attainder, even if the majority wanted to.
In these ways, the Constitution limited majority rule.
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