Key Arguments

• Rawls introduces 'the worth of political liberty': 'the constitution must take steps to enhance the value of the equal rights of participation for all members of society. It must underwrite a fair opportunity to take part in and to influence the political process.'
• He explicitly analogizes this to his earlier principle of fair equality of opportunity: 'The distinction here is analogous to that made before (§12): ideally, those similarly endowed and motivated should have roughly the same chance of attaining positions of political authority irrespective of their economic and social class.'
• He notes preconditions for a rational democratic process: 'a democratic regime presupposes freedom of speech and assembly, and liberty of thought and conscience. These institutions are not only required by the first principle of justice but, as Mill argued, they are necessary if political affairs are to be conducted in a rational fashion.'
• He argues that if these liberties are absent, 'the more reasonable course seems sure to be rejected in favor of policies sought by special interests,' showing the link between liberties and rational collective choice.
• For the public forum to function properly, 'everyone should be able to make use of it. All citizens should have the means to be informed about political issues. They should be in a position to assess how proposals affect their well-being and which policies advance their conception of the public good. Moreover, they should have a fair chance to add alternative proposals to the agenda for political discussion.'
• He warns that 'The liberties protected by the principle of participation lose much of their value whenever those who have greater private means are permitted to use their advantages to control the course of public debate. For eventually these inequalities will enable those better situated to exercise a larger influence over the development of legislation.'
• Over time, 'they are likely to acquire a preponderant weight in settling social questions, at least in regard to those matters upon which they normally agree, which is to say in regard to those things that support their favored circumstances,' illustrating how economic power can entrench itself politically.
• He draws the normative conclusion: 'Compensating steps must, then, be taken to preserve the fair value for all of the equal political liberties.'

Source Quotes

This question I leave aside for the next section. Turning now to the worth of political liberty, the constitution must take steps to enhance the value of the equal rights of participation for all members of society. It must underwrite a fair opportunity to take part in and to influence the political process.

Turning now to the worth of political liberty, the constitution must take steps to enhance the value of the equal rights of participation for all members of society. It must underwrite a fair opportunity to take part in and to influence the political process. The distinction here is analogous to that made before (§12): ideally, those similarly endowed and motivated should have roughly the same chance of attaining positions of political authority irrespective of their economic and social class.

It must underwrite a fair opportunity to take part in and to influence the political process. The distinction here is analogous to that made before (§12): ideally, those similarly endowed and motivated should have roughly the same chance of attaining positions of political authority irrespective of their economic and social class. But how is this fair value of these liberties to be secured?

If the public forum is to be free and open to all, and in continuous session, everyone should be able to make use of it. All citizens should have the means to be informed about political issues. They should be in a position to assess how proposals affect their well-being and which policies advance their conception of the public good.

They should be in a position to assess how proposals affect their well-being and which policies advance their conception of the public good. Moreover, they should have a fair chance to add alternative proposals to the agenda for political discussion. 115 The liberties protected by the principle of participation lose much of their value whenever those who have greater private means are permitted to use their advantages to control the course of public debate.

Moreover, they should have a fair chance to add alternative proposals to the agenda for political discussion. 115 The liberties protected by the principle of participation lose much of their value whenever those who have greater private means are permitted to use their advantages to control the course of public debate. For eventually these inequalities will enable those better situated to exercise a larger influence over the development of legislation.

In due time they are likely to acquire a preponderant weight in settling social questions, at least in regard to those matters upon which they normally agree, which is to say in regard to those things that support their favored circumstances. Compensating steps must, then, be taken to preserve the fair value for all of the equal political liberties. A variety of devices can be used.

Key Concepts

• Turning now to the worth of political liberty, the constitution must take steps to enhance the value of the equal rights of participation for all members of society.
• It must underwrite a fair opportunity to take part in and to influence the political process.
• ideally, those similarly endowed and motivated should have roughly the same chance of attaining positions of political authority irrespective of their economic and social class.
• All citizens should have the means to be informed about political issues.
• Moreover, they should have a fair chance to add alternative proposals to the agenda for political discussion.
• The liberties protected by the principle of participation lose much of their value whenever those who have greater private means are permitted to use their advantages to control the course of public debate.
• Compensating steps must, then, be taken to preserve the fair value for all of the equal political liberties.

Context

Later middle of §36, where Rawls distinguishes the formal specification of equal political liberty from its 'worth' and articulates requirements for fair political influence and informed participation.