Question

How is this idea represented in Article 3 different from the divine right to rule that absolute monarchs like Louis XVI used to justify their power?

Answer 1

Article 3 of the Constitution differs from the divine right to rule in that it establishes government legitimacy through a social contract with the people, and rulers are accountable to the citizens, whereas divine right meant monarchs were granted absolute power by God alone and were not answerable to their subjects.

Step-by-step explanation:

Difference Between Article 3 and Divine Right to Rule

The idea of authority as represented in Article 3 of the Constitution is fundamentally different from the concept of divine right to rule, which was a common justification for power by absolute monarchs such as Louis XVI. The divine right to rule implies that a monarch's authority is bestowed directly by God, making them accountable only to divine authority, not to their subjects. In contrast, Article 3 of the Constitution reflects Enlightenment principles, where the legitimacy of a government is derived from a social contract with the citizenry, ensuring that rulers are accountable to the people and that their powers are defined and restricted by law.

Under the divine right, it was believed that only God could judge a ruler, thus giving the monarch absolute power and precluding any form of revolt or resistance against their rule. Louis XIV is an iconic example of an absolute monarch who personified the divine right to rule, declaring his authority as unquestionable and divinely ordained, without any obligation to share power with other social classes. This stands in stark contrast to the American constitutional framework, where powers are separated and the government is subject to the will of the governed.

The philosophical shift from divine rule to constitutional governance champions the idea that a ruler's legitimacy is not inherent but must be continually established through just and equitable governance, reflecting the will and rights of the population. As a result, Article 3 promotes a system of checks and balances, legal procedures, and citizen rights, which starkly differs from the unchallenged authority of monarchs ruling by divine right.

Answer 2

Article 3 of the United States Constitution describes the U.S. judicial branch, including the Supreme Court, the federal courts, and the state courts.

Step-by-step explanation:

This idea is different from the right of absolute monarchs like Louis XVI, because as the adjective implies, the power of these monarchs was absolute: they made the laws, they executed the laws, and they interpreted the laws. As Louis XVI himself once said "l'etat c'est moi", which is I am the state in French. The French state and Louis XVI were essentially the same thing.