more from John Locke

Single Idea 19901

[catalogued under 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 Reference

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.