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Single Idea 19996
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / a. Government
]
Full Idea
In every government there are three sorts of powers: the legislative; the executivem in regard to those matters determined by the laws of nations; and the executive, in regard to those matters determined by civil law.
Gist of Idea
A government has a legislature, an international executive, and a domestic executive
Source
Baron de Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757) [1748], 11.06)
Book Ref
Montesquieu,Baron de: 'Selected Political Writings', ed/tr. Richter,Melvin [Hackett 1990], p.182
The
56 ideas
from 'The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757)'
19956
|
True goodness is political, and consists of love of and submission to the laws
[Montesquieu]
|
19957
|
Teaching is the best practice of the general virtue that leads us to love everyone
[Montesquieu]
|
19958
|
Laws are the necessary relations that derive from the nature of things
[Montesquieu]
|
19959
|
Prior to positive laws there is natural equity, of obedience, gratitude, dependence and merit
[Montesquieu]
|
19960
|
Sensation gives animals natural laws, but knowledge can make them break them
[Montesquieu]
|
19962
|
Men do not desire to subjugate one another; domination is a complex and advanced idea
[Montesquieu]
|
19961
|
Primitive people would be too vulnerable and timid to attack anyone, so peace would reign
[Montesquieu]
|
19963
|
People are drawn into society by needs, shared fears, pleasure, and knowledge
[Montesquieu]
|
19964
|
The natural power of a father suggests rule by one person, but that authority can be spread
[Montesquieu]
|
19965
|
The fundamental laws of a democracy decide who can vote
[Montesquieu]
|
19968
|
It is basic to a democracy that the people themselves must name their ministers
[Montesquieu]
|
19969
|
Voting should be public, so the lower classes can be influenced by the example of notable people
[Montesquieu]
|
19967
|
In a democracy the people should manage themselves, and only delegate what they can't do
[Montesquieu]
|
19966
|
A democratic assembly must have a fixed number, to see whether everyone has spoken
[Montesquieu]
|
19970
|
If the nobility is numerous, the senate is the artistocracy, and the nobles are a democracy
[Montesquieu]
|
19971
|
Aristocracy is democratic if they resemble the people, but not if they resemble the monarch
[Montesquieu]
|
19972
|
The nobility are an indispensable part of a monarchy
[Montesquieu]
|
19974
|
Monarchs must not just have links to the people; they need a body which maintains the laws
[Montesquieu]
|
19973
|
The clergy are essential to a monarchy, but dangerous in a republic
[Montesquieu]
|
19975
|
Despots are always lazy and ignorant, so they always delegate their power to a vizier
[Montesquieu]
|
19976
|
Ambition is good in a monarchy, because the monarch can always restrain it
[Montesquieu]
|
19977
|
Despotism and honour are incompatible, because honour scorns his power, and lives by rules
[Montesquieu]
|
19978
|
In monarchies, men's actions are judged by their grand appearance, not their virtues
[Montesquieu]
|
19979
|
In monarchies education ennobles people, and in despotisms it debases them
[Montesquieu]
|
19980
|
If a government is to be preserved, it must first be loved
[Montesquieu]
|
19981
|
No one even thinks of equality in monarchies and despotism; they all want superiority
[Montesquieu]
|
19982
|
Some equality can be achieved by social categories, combined with taxes and poor relief
[Montesquieu]
|
19983
|
Democracies may sometimes need to restrict equality
[Montesquieu]
|
19984
|
Great inequality between aristocrats and the rest is bad - and also among aristocrats themselves
[Montesquieu]
|
19985
|
In a monarchy, the nobility must be hereditary, to bind them together
[Montesquieu]
|
19986
|
Monarchies can act more quickly, because one person is in charge
[Montesquieu]
|
19987
|
Religion has the most influence in despotic states, and reinforces veneration for the ruler
[Montesquieu]
|
19988
|
A despot's agents must be given power, so they inevitably become corrupt
[Montesquieu]
|
19989
|
The will of a despot is an enigma, so magistrates can only follow their own will
[Montesquieu]
|
19990
|
Democracy is corrupted by lack of equality, or by extreme equality (between rulers and ruled)
[Montesquieu]
|
19991
|
Equality is not command by everyone or no one, but command and obedience among equals
[Montesquieu]
|
19993
|
In small republics citizens identify with the public good, and abuses are fewer
[Montesquieu]
|
19992
|
In a large republic there is too much wealth for individuals to manage it
[Montesquieu]
|
19994
|
Freedom in society is ability to do what is right, and not having to do what is wrong
[Montesquieu]
|
19995
|
All states aim at preservation, and then have distinctive individual purposes
[Montesquieu]
|
19996
|
A government has a legislature, an international executive, and a domestic executive
[Montesquieu]
|
19997
|
The judiciary must be separate from the legislature, to avoid arbitrary power
[Montesquieu]
|
19999
|
All citizens (apart from the very humble poor) should choose their representatives
[Montesquieu]
|
19998
|
If deputies represent people, they are accountable, but less so if they represent places
[Montesquieu]
|
20000
|
Slavery is entirely bad; the master abandons the virtues, and they are pointless in the slave
[Montesquieu]
|
20003
|
Slaves are not members of the society, so no law can forbid them to run away
[Montesquieu]
|
20001
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The only right victors have over captives is the protection of the former
[Montesquieu]
|
20002
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The death penalty is permissible, because its victims enjoyed the protection of that law
[Montesquieu]
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20004
|
French slavery was accepted because it was the best method of religious conversion
[Montesquieu]
|
20005
|
The rich would never submit to a lottery deciding which part of their society should be slaves
[Montesquieu]
|
20006
|
The demand for slavery is just the masters' demand for luxury
[Montesquieu]
|
20007
|
Tyranny is either real violence, or the imposition of unpopular legislation
[Montesquieu]
|
20008
|
People are guided by a multitude of influences, from which the spirit of a nation emerges
[Montesquieu]
|
20009
|
Freedom of speech and writing, within the law, is essential to preserve liberty
[Montesquieu]
|
20010
|
If religion teaches determinism, penalties must be severe; if free will, then that is different
[Montesquieu]
|
20011
|
Religion can support the state when the law fails to do so
[Montesquieu]
|