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Single Idea 19901

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy ]

Full Idea

There remains still in the people a supreme power to remove or alter the legislative, when they find the legislative act contrary to the trust reposed in them.

Gist of Idea

The people have supreme power, to depose a legislature which has breached their trust

Source

John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 149)

Book Ref

Locke,John: 'Two Treatises of Government' [Everyman 1988], p.192

A Reaction

This seems to be the most important aspect of representative democracy. It is not the power of people to make decisions, but the power to get rid of bad rulers.

The 50 ideas from 'Second Treatise of Government'

5654 The Second Treatise explores the consequences of the contractual view of the state [Locke, by Scruton]
6580 Locke (and Marx) held that ownership of objects is a natural relation, based on the labour put into it [Locke, by Fogelin]
20520 Locke says 'mixing of labour' entitles you to land, as well as nuts and berries [Wolff,J on Locke]
19863 Politics is the right to make enforceable laws to protect property and the state, for the common good [Locke]
19865 There is no subjection in nature, and all creatures of the same species are equal [Locke]
19864 In nature men can dispose of possessions and their persons in any way that is possible [Locke]
19866 The rational law of nature says we are all equal and independent, and should show mutual respect [Locke]
19867 Reparation and restraint are the only justifications for punishment [Locke]
19868 It is only by a law of Nature that we can justify punishing foreigners [Locke]
19869 Punishment should make crime a bad bargain, leading to repentance and deterrence [Locke]
19870 If you try to enslave me, you have declared war on me [Locke]
19871 Freedom is not absence of laws, but living under laws arrived at by consent [Locke]
19872 The animals and fruits of the earth belong to mankind [Locke]
19873 We all own our bodies, and the work we do is our own [Locke]
19875 A man's labour gives ownership rights - as long as there are fair shares for all [Locke]
19874 If a man mixes his labour with something in Nature, he thereby comes to own it [Locke]
19876 Gathering natural fruits gives ownership; the consent of other people is irrelevant [Locke]
19877 Fountain water is everyone's, but a drawn pitcher of water has an owner [Locke]
19878 Mixing labour with a thing bestows ownership - as long as the thing is not wasted [Locke]
19879 A man owns land if he cultivates it, to the limits of what he needs [Locke]
19880 All value depends on the labour involved [Locke]
19881 The aim of law is not restraint, but to make freedom possible [Locke]
19882 We are not created for solitude, but are driven into society by our needs [Locke]
19883 Slaves captured in a just war have no right to property, so are not part of civil society [Locke]
19884 There is only a civil society if the members give up all of their natural executive rights [Locke]
19885 Absolute monarchy is inconsistent with civil society [Locke]
19886 The idea that absolute power improves mankind is confuted by history [Locke]
19887 Unanimous consent makes a united community, which is then ruled by the majority [Locke]
19888 A society only begins if there is consent of all the individuals to join it [Locke]
19892 Children are not born into citizenship of a state [Locke]
6702 If anyone enjoys the benefits of government (even using a road) they give tacit assent to its laws [Locke]
19893 Anyone who enjoys the benefits of a state has given tacit consent to be part of it [Locke]
19894 You can only become an actual member of a commonwealth by an express promise [Locke]
19895 Even the legislature must be preceded by a law which gives it power to make laws [Locke]
19898 Soldiers can be commanded to die, but not to hand over their money [Locke]
19899 The consent of the people is essential for any tax [Locke]
19900 The executive must not be the legislature, or they may exempt themselves from laws [Locke]
19901 The people have supreme power, to depose a legislature which has breached their trust [Locke]
19906 All countries are in a mutual state of nature [Locke]
19902 Any obstruction to the operation of the legislature can be removed forcibly by the people [Locke]
19903 Despotism is arbitrary power to kill, based neither on natural equality, nor any social contract [Locke]
19905 People stripped of their property are legitimately subject to despotism [Locke]
19907 There is a natural right to inheritance within a family [Locke]
19908 Rebelling against an illegitimate power is no sin [Locke]
19904 Legitimate prisoners of war are subject to despotism, because that continues the state of war [Locke]
19909 A politic society is created from a state of nature by a unanimous agreement [Locke]
19910 A single will creates the legislature, which is duty-bound to preserve that will [Locke]
19911 If legislators confiscate property, or enslave people, they are no longer owed obedience [Locke]
19912 Self-defence is natural, but not the punishment of superiors by inferiors [Locke]
19913 A master forfeits ownership of slaves he abandons [Locke]