Thus, the office of the Representatives of the People was to see to it that the
executive power did not use its power to violate or diminish the rights of any
individual or lawful association. The representatives would do so by
legislative acts, which would not bind the people but would bind only the
‘executive’ to the performance of its constitutional duties—essentially,
maintaining law and order and providing defence against foreign attacks. In
short, the Representatives’ primary obligation was to make sure that there
were no rulers and therefore also no subjects.