This text has been referred to as one of the great foundational writings on democracy. Kelsen, who played a significant role in drafting Austria's first democratic constitution in 1920, starts with the question of how to most effectively secure individual freedom. He addresses the role of Parliament and its relationship to the will of the people, the importance of the principle of majority and the protection of minorities, as well as elite selection and the separation of powers. Kelsen's work is a plea for democracy. In light of today's fatigue with democracy, this wise classic is more important than ever.