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Full Idea
I call 'government' or supreme administration the legitimate exercise of executive power; I call 'prince' or magistrate the man or body charged with that administration.
Gist of Idea
I call the executive power the 'government', which is the 'prince' - a single person, or a group
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], III.01)
Book Ref
Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.174
A Reaction
Whether the prince is one person or many is left up to the legislative body, which is the general will. Rousseau has no view on the matter.
22539 | Election of officials by the elected is dangerous, because factions can control it [Aristotle] |
22543 | In large communities it is better if more people participate in the offices [Aristotle] |
22572 | Officers should like the constitution, be capable, and have appropriate virtues and justice [Aristotle] |
19900 | The executive must not be the legislature, or they may exempt themselves from laws [Locke] |
19821 | I call the executive power the 'government', which is the 'prince' - a single person, or a group [Rousseau] |