Sec.

  1 1      |             to be the fountain of all power, Adam's private dominion
  2 1      |         another original of political power, and another way of designing
  3 2      |           what I take to be political power; that the power of a MAGISTRATE
  4 2      |             political power; that the power of a MAGISTRATE over a subject
  5 3      |                    Sect. 3. POLITICAL POWER, then, I take to be a RIGHT
  6 4      |               TO understand political power right, and derive it from
  7 4      |             equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal,
  8 7      |             the state of nature had a power to execute that law, and
  9 8      |            nature, one man comes by a power over another; but yet no
 10 8      |              no absolute or arbitrary power, to use a criminal, when
 11 9      |            that commonwealth, hath no power over him. Those who have
 12 9      |            Those who have the supreme power of making laws in England,
 13 9      |           nature every man hath not a power to punish offences against
 14 9      |            him, they can have no more power than what every man naturally
 15 11     |             damnified person has this power of appropriating to himself
 16 11     | self-preservation, as every man has a power to punish the crime, to
 17 11     |            the state of nature, has a power to kill a murderer, both
 18 13     |           every one has the executive power of the law of nature, I
 19 16     |               his life to the other's power to be taken away by him,
 20 16     |          whenever he falls into their power.~
 21 17     |         another man into his absolute power, does thereby put himself
 22 17     |             who would get me into his power without my consent, would
 23 17     |               have me in his absolute power, unless it be to compel
 24 18     |           force, so to get him in his power, as to take away his money,
 25 18     |             right, to get me into his power, let his pretence be what
 26 18     |            not, when he had me in his power, take away every thing else.
 27 21     |              there is an authority, a power on earth, from which relief
 28 21     |        controversy is decided by that power. Had there been any such
 29 22     |             be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be
 30 22     |            under no other legislative power, but that established, by
 31 22     |               made by the legislative power erected in it; a liberty
 32 23     |              from absolute, arbitrary power, is so necessary to, and
 33 23     |             for a man, not having the power of his own life, cannot,
 34 23     |               the absolute, arbitrary power of another, to take away
 35 23     |        pleases. No body can give more power than he has himself; and
 36 23     |             life, cannot give another power over it. Indeed, having
 37 23     |                when he has him in his power) delay to take it, and make
 38 23     |             of his life, it is in his power, by resisting the will of
 39 24     |               agreement for a limited power on the one side, and obedience
 40 24     |             he hath not in himself, a power over his own life.~I confess,
 41 24     |       absolute, arbitrary, despotical power: for the master could not
 42 24     |             the master could not have power to kill him, at any time,
 43 24     |              from having an arbitrary power over his life, that he could
 44 42     |             against the oppression of power and narrowness of party,
 45 [Title]|               Chapter VI.~Of Paternal Power.~
 46 52     |         mistakes, as this of paternal power probably has done, which
 47 52     |           which seems so to place the power of parents over their children
 48 52     |              properly called parental power? for whatever obligation
 49 53     |            they have made, about this power of parents; which, however
 50 53     |           under the title of paternal power it seemed appropriated to
 51 53     |             if this supposed absolute power over children had been called
 52 53     |              so much for the absolute power and authority of the fatherhood,
 53 58     |                          Sec. 58. The power, then, that parents have
 54 61     |            all the absolute unlimited power Sir Robert Filmer talks
 55 63     |            and concern to temper this power, to apply it, as his wisdom
 56 64     |         dominion of the father, whose power reaches no farther, than
 57 64     |              subsistence. But in this power the mother too has her share
 58 65     |                    Sec. 65. Nay, this power so little belongs to the
 59 65     |            care of them, he loses his power over them, which goes along
 60 65     |          father of another. So little power does the bare act of begetting
 61 65     |               become of this paternal power in that part of the world,
 62 65     |             mother hath a legislative power over her children? that
 63 65     |                for this is the proper power of the magistrate, of which
 64 65     |           perishing for want, yet his power extends not to the lives
 65 66     |             far from giving parents a power of command over their children,
 66 67     |               prerogative of paternal power. The nourishment and education
 67 67     |            care of it: and though the power of commanding and chastising
 68 67     |              parents should use their power with too much rigour; the
 69 67     |               slackened. This is that power to which children are commanded
 70 68     |              duty, seems to have most power, because the ignorance and
 71 69     |           first part then of paternal power, or rather duty, which is
 72 69     |             these are very far from a power to make laws, and enforcing
 73 69     |          liberty, limbs and life. The power of commanding ends with
 74 69     |           father's hand, no sovereign power of commanding. He has no
 75 71     |     themselves are subjects, retain a power over their children, and
 76 71     |         possibly be, if all political power were only paternal, and
 77 71     |                for then, all paternal power being in the prince, the
 78 71     |                has as much a paternal power over his children, as the
 79 72     |              parents, contain all the power on the one hand, and submission
 80 72     |        relation, yet there is another power ordinarily in the father,
 81 72     |         jurisdiction. And this is the power men generally have to bestow
 82 72     |              commonly in the father's power to bestow it with a more
 83 73     |            such a possession. By this power indeed fathers oblige their
 84 73     |             to this or that political power: but neither of these by
 85 73     |            compliance; and is no more power than what a French man has
 86 74     |               then, tho' the father's power of commanding extends no
 87 74     |             them, gives the father no power of governing, i.e. making
 88 74     |            his family, that executive power of the law of nature, which
 89 74     |               up to him a monarchical power, whilst they remained in
 90 74     |              virtue of that executive power of the law of nature, which,
 91 74     |             by the exercise of such a power, to give way to the dignity
 92 82     |             gives the husband no more power over her life than she has
 93 82     |            than she has over his; the power of the husband being so
 94 83     |              not abridge the right or power of either naturally necessary
 95 83     |              absolute sovereignty and power of life and death naturally
 96 83     |           matrimony requiring no such power in the husband, the condition
 97 83     |           community of goods, and the power over them, mutual assistance
 98 85     |            the master but a temporary power over him, and no greater
 99 85     |       absolute dominion and arbitrary power of their masters. These
100 86     |             both in its constitution, power and end: or if it must be
101 86     |              very shattered and short power, when it is plain, by what
102 86     |               and differently limited power, both as to time and extent,
103 86     |             as much a family, and his power as paterfamilias as great,
104 86     |             no) he has no legislative power of life and death over any
105 86     |        certainly can have no absolute power over the whole family, who
106 87     |               world, hath by nature a power, not only to preserve his
107 87     |          without having in itself the power to preserve the property,
108 87     |             hath quitted this natural power, resigned it up into the
109 88     |              common-wealth comes by a power to set down what punishment
110 88     |           that society, (which is the power of making laws) as well
111 88     |           laws) as well as it has the power to punish any injury done
112 88     |              not of it, (which is the power of war and peace;) and all
113 88     |               has thereby quitted his power to punish offences, against
114 88     |             legislative and executive power of civil society, which
115 89     |               every one his executive power of the law of nature, and
116 89     |            that have no such decisive power to appeal to, there they
117 90     |            his dominion.~(*The public power of all society is above
118 90     |             the principal use of that power is, to give laws unto all
119 91     |             legislative and executive power in himself alone, there
120 91     |          according to the best of his power, to maintain it; now, whenever
121 91     |              flattery, and armed with power.~(*To take away all such
122 92     |               he that thinks absolute power purifies men's blood, and
123 93     |          every man, who loves his own power, profit, or greatness, may
124 93     |         circumstances; because he has power to do more hurt and wrong,
125 93     |             of nature, increased with power, and made licentious by
126 95     |            subjected to the political power of another, without his
127 96     |            community one body, with a power to act as one body, which
128 96     |             of nature and reason, the power of the whole.~
129 99     |         understood to give up all the power, necessary to the ends for
130 103    |              they promote, and such a power as they contend for.~
131 105    |               law of nature, the same power with every man else to punish,
132 105    |             turns, giving him thereby power to execute his sentence
133 106    |           place in the beginning, the power in one hand; yet it is plain
134 107    |            inconveniences of absolute power, which monarchy in succession
135 107    |            them, and of balancing the power of government, by placing
136 111    |          minds into a mistake of true power and honour) had more virtue,
137 111    |             to lessen or restrain the power of the magistrate, and so
138 111    |               retain and increase the power, without doing the business
139 111    |            prevent the abuses of that power, which they having intrusted
140 112    |            limiting or regulating his power, which they thought safe
141 112    |             nor ever allowed paternal power to have a right to dominion,
142 116    |               bating that of paternal power, which we have already answered)
143 118    |              otherwise; they claim no power over the son, because of
144 118    |             any where else? Since the power that a father hath naturally
145 119    |             subjection to any earthly power, but only his own consent;
146 123    |             and controul of any other power? To which it is obvious
147 126    |              nature there often wants power to back and support the
148 127    |             uncertain exercise of the power every man has of punishing
149 127    |               up every one his single power of punishing, to be exercised
150 127    |             legislative and executive power, as well as of the governments
151 128    |               associations.~The other power a man has in the state of
152 128    |               state of nature, is the power to punish the crimes committed
153 129    |                   Sec. 129. The first power, viz. of doing whatsoever
154 130    |               Sec. 130. Secondly, The power of punishing he wholly gives
155 130    |               to assist the executive power of the society, as the law
156 131    |                liberty, and executive power they had in the state of
157 131    |            intention to be worse) the power of the society, or legislative
158 131    |            the legislative or supreme power of any common-wealth, is
159 132    |               into society, the whole power of the community naturally
160 132    |             them, may employ all that power in making laws for the community
161 132    |        democracy: or else may put the power of making laws into the
162 132    |                but upon his death the power only of nominating a successor
163 132    |                And if the legislative power be at first given by the
164 132    |            time, and then the supreme power to revert to them again;
165 132    |               the placing the supreme power, which is the legislative,
166 132    |             conceive that an inferior power should prescribe to a superior,
167 132    |           make laws, according as the power of making laws is placed,
168 [Title]|             Extent of the Legislative Power.~
169 134    |       establishing of the legislative power; as the first and fundamental
170 134    |               is not only the supreme power of the common-wealth, but
171 134    |          soever conceived, or by what power soever backed, have the
172 134    |               whom no body can have a power to make laws, but by their
173 134    |            terminates in this supreme power, and is directed by those
174 134    |              any oaths to any foreign power whatsoever, or any domestic
175 134    |              any domestic subordinate power, discharge any member of
176 134    |           tied ultimately to obey any power in the society, which is
177 134    |             the supreme.~(*The lawful power of making laws to command
178 134    |              have no full and perfect power to command whole politic
179 135    |              though it be the supreme power in every common-wealth;
180 135    |            for it being but the joint power of every member of the society
181 135    |              transfer to another more power than he has in himself;
182 135    |             has an absolute arbitrary power over himself, or over any
183 135    |              himself to the arbitrary power of another; and having in
184 135    |          state of nature no arbitrary power over the life, liberty,
185 135    |              by it to the legislative power, so that the legislative
186 135    |              no more than this. Their power, in the utmost bounds of
187 135    |               of the society. It is a power, that hath no other end
188 136    |           cannot assume to its self a power to rule by extemporary arbitrary
189 136    |             give up all their natural power to the society which they
190 136    |         community put the legislative power into such hands as they
191 137    |               137. Absolute arbitrary power, or governing without settled
192 137    |             should intend, had they a power so to do, to give to any
193 137    |           more, an absolute arbitrary power over their persons and estates,
194 137    |             to the absolute arbitrary power and will of a legislator,
195 137    |              exposed to the arbitrary power of one man, who has the
196 137    |              exposed to the arbitrary power of 100,000 single men; no
197 137    |    common-wealth is under, the ruling power ought to govern by declared
198 137    |              a few men with the joint power of a multitude, to force
199 137    |            their actions: for all the power the government has, being
200 137    |            and not be tempted, by the power they have in their hands,
201 138    |             138. Thirdly, The supreme power cannot take from any man
202 138    |            the supreme or legislative power of any commonwealth, can
203 138    |         increase their own riches and power, by taking what they think
204 138    |          commands those subjects have power to take from any private
205 139    |           senate, however it may have power to make laws, for the regulating
206 139    |         another, yet can never have a power to take to themselves the
207 139    |               see, that even absolute power, where it is necessary,
208 139    |            yet, with all his absolute power of life and death, dispose
209 139    |           which the commander has his power, viz. the preservation of
210 140    |              if any one shall claim a power to lay and levy taxes on
211 141    |       legislative cannot transfer the power of making laws to any other
212 141    |              it being but a delegated power from the people, they who
213 141    |               make laws for them. The power of the legislative, being
214 141    |               legislative can have no power to transfer their authority
215 142    |           have set to the legislative power of every common-wealth,
216 142    |             must nor can transfer the power of making laws to any body
217 [Title]|             Executive, and Federative Power of the Common-wealth.~
218 143    |             Sec. 143. THE legislative power is that, which has a right
219 143    |              frailty, apt to grasp at power, for the same persons, who
220 143    |            same persons, who have the power of making laws, to have
221 143    |               also in their hands the power to execute them, whereby
222 143    |             it ought, the legislative power is put into the hands of
223 143    |             or jointly with others, a power to make laws, which when
224 144    |           necessary there should be a power always in being, which should
225 144    |             legislative and executive power come often to be separated.~
226 145    |            Sec. 145. There is another power in every common-wealth,
227 145    |             that which answers to the power every man naturally had
228 146    |           This therefore contains the power of war and peace, leagues
229 147    |            And though this federative power in the well or ill management
230 147    |               of those, who have this power committed to them, to be
231 148    |              executive and federative power of every community be really
232 148    |              executive and federative power should be placed in persons,
233 149    |          there can be but one supreme power, which is the legislative,
234 149    |    legislative being only a fiduciary power to act for certain ends,
235 149    |               in the people a supreme power to remove or alter the legislative,
236 149    |              reposed in them: for all power given with trust for the
237 149    |     necessarily be forfeited, and the power devolve into the hands of
238 149    |         perpetually retains a supreme power of saving themselves from
239 149    |              society of men, having a power to deliver up their preservation,
240 149    |        preserve, what they have not a power to part with; and to rid
241 149    |              to be always the supreme power, but not as considered under
242 149    |              government, because this power of the people can never
243 150    |            legislative is the supreme power: for what can give laws
244 150    |             their actions, and giving power of execution, where they
245 151    |               himself all the supreme power, which is that of law-making;
246 151    |              the law, made by a joint power of him with others; allegiance
247 151    |         public person vested with the power of the law, and so is to
248 151    |               thus he has no will, no power, but that of the law. But
249 151    |         single private person without power, and without will, that
250 152    |               Sec. 152. The executive power, placed any where but in
251 152    |             not the supreme executive power, that is exempt from subordination,
252 152    |             but the supreme executive power vested in one, who having
253 152    |             accountable to some other power in the common-wealth.~
254 153    |          necessary that the executive power should, because there is
255 153    |              other hands, they have a power still to resume it out of
256 153    |              regard of the federative power, that and the executive
257 153    |            have the supreme executive power, together with the legislative)
258 153    |         convoke them: for the supreme power being placed in them by
259 153    |               an act of their supreme power they have adjourned to a
260 154    |               upon a new choice, this power of chusing must also be
261 154    |               in this latter case the power of convoking the legislative
262 154    |                and then the executive power does nothing but ministerially
263 155    |           here, What if the executive power, being possessed of the
264 155    |              in the exercise of their power: for having erected a legislative,
265 155    |              they should exercise the power of making laws, either at
266 156    |                         Sec. 156. The power of assembling and dismissing
267 156    |        executive, not as an arbitrary power depending on his good pleasure,
268 156    |             that though the executive power may have the prerogative
269 157    |           Thus people, riches, trade, power, change their stations,
270 157    |               the people, no inferior power can alter it. And therefore
271 157    |             have been speaking of, no power to act as long as the government
272 158    |            the executive, who has the power of convoking the legislative,
273 158    |       prerogative being nothing but a power, in the hands of the prince,
274 158    |             be, just prerogative, The power of erecting new corporations,
275 159    |             legislative and executive power are in distinct hands, (
276 159    |            him that has the executive power: for the legislators not
277 159    |       executor of the laws having the power in his hands, has by the
278 159    |            him that has the executive power in his hands, to be ordered
279 159    |             give way to the executive power, or rather to this fundamental
280 159    |               the ruler should have a power, in many cases, to mitigate
281 160    |                        Sec. 160. This power to act according to discretion,
282 160    |             governments the lawmaking power is not always in being,
283 160    |        latitude left to the executive power, to do many things of choice
284 161    |                        Sec. 161. This power, whilst employed for the
285 161    |        question between the executive power and the people, about a
286 162    |           princes to make use of this power for private ends of their
287 163    |              only declared, that that power which they indefinitely
288 163    |           would have it, an arbitrary power to do things hurtful to
289 164    |             set precise bounds to his power in all things) prerogative
290 164    |            much prerogative, that is, power to do good; so a weak and
291 164    |          prince, who would claim that power which his predecessors exercised
292 164    |           their right, and limit that power, which, whilst it was exercised
293 166    |               some title to arbitrary power by that argument, that would
294 166    |        prerogative is nothing but the power of doing public good without
295 167    |                         Sec. 167. The power of calling parliaments in
296 167    |               left with the executive power, as might be most subservient
297 168    |              shall be judge when this power is made a right use of one
298 168    |          answer: between an executive power in being, with such a prerogative,
299 168    |                when they have got the power in their hands, design,
300 168    |           such attempts, exercising a power the people never put into
301 168    |               under the exercise of a power without right, and have
302 168    |            that society, any superior power, to determine and give effective
303 168    |               it being out of a man's power so to submit himself to
304 168    |           neither can he give another power to take it. Nor let any
305 168    |                But this the executive power, or wise princes, never
306 [Title]|             Political, and Despotical Power, considered together.~
307 170    |            then, Paternal or parental power is nothing but that which
308 170    |            pretence why this parental power should keep the child, when
309 170    |               which is political. The power of the father doth not reach
310 171    |              171. Secondly, Political power is that power, which every
311 171    |               Political power is that power, which every man having
312 171    |              their property: now this power, which every man has in
313 171    |               end and measure of this power, when in every man's hands
314 171    |             be an absolute, arbitrary power over their lives and fortunes,
315 171    |       possible to be preserved; but a power to make laws, and annex
316 171    |          severity is lawful. And this power has its original only from
317 172    |              172. Thirdly, Despotical power is an absolute, arbitrary
318 172    |             is an absolute, arbitrary power one man has over another,
319 172    |        whenever he pleases. This is a power, which neither nature gives,
320 172    |              having such an arbitrary power over his own life, cannot
321 172    |               give another man such a power over it; but it is the effect
322 172    |               subject to a despotical power, which, as it arises not
323 172    |             the despotical, arbitrary power of his master ceases. He
324 172    |             so far quits his absolute power, and puts an end to the
325 173    |               of these, viz. paternal power to parents for the benefit
326 173    |            the second, viz. political power to governors for the benefit
327 173    |            gives the third despotical power to lords for their own benefit,
328 174    |            plainly see, that paternal power comes as far short of that
329 174    |               with property. Paternal power is only where minority makes
330 176    |              this world, and have the power in their own possession,
331 177    |              lawful war, and see what power he gets, and over whom.~
332 177    |                It is plain he gets no power by his conquest over those
333 178    |         freedom; let us see next what power a lawful conqueror has over
334 178    |        despotical. He has an absolute power over the lives of those
335 179    |            then the conqueror gets no power but only over those who
336 179    |           given to their governors no power to do an unjust thing, such
337 179    |             for they never had such a power in themselves) they ought
338 179    |             right; for the conquerors power over the lives of the conquered,
339 179    |           injustice, he can have that power only over those who have
340 180    |                Sec. 180. Thirdly, The power a conqueror gets over those
341 180    |        despotical: he has an absolute power over the lives of those,
342 184    |         another, can give a conqueror power to dispossess the posterity
343 189    |               hath not, in himself, a power over the life or liberty
344 189    |             freemen, and the absolute power of the conqueror reaches
345 189    |             to his absolute arbitrary power, he has no such right of
346 189    |              children. He can have no power over them but by their own
347 190    |              which no other man has a power over, but the free disposal
348 193    |               the estates, as well as power over the persons, of the
349 193    |              not: nothing of absolute power will follow from hence,
350 194    |           after his grant, may by his power of conqueror take away all,
351 194    |        dissolve them at any time, but power enough: and all the grants
352 194    |         grants and promises of men in power are but mockery and collusion:
353 195    |               and nature. No body, no power, can exempt them from the
354 196    |      possessions of either, he has no power; and so can have, by virtue
355 196    |             plain, that shaking off a power, which force, and not right,
356 197    |             if the usurper extend his power beyond what of right belonged
357 198    |            person that shall have the power, and be the monarch. Hence
358 198    |           exercise of any part of the power, by other ways than what
359 198    |                and confirm in him the power he hath till then usurped.~
360 199    |         usurpation is the exercise of power, which another hath a right
361 199    |            tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right, which no body
362 199    |             this is making use of the power any one has in his hands,
363 200    |            the laws the bounds of his power, and the good of the public,
364 201    |             as that: for wherever the power, that is put in any hands
365 202    |              in authority exceeds the power given him by the law, and
366 202    |         rightfully possessed of great power and riches, exceedingly
367 207    |             unlawful exercises of his power, will not upon every slight
368 208    |      magistrate be maintained (by the power he has got), and the remedy
369 208    |            due by law, be by the same power obstructed; yet the right
370 210    |    prerogative (which is an arbitrary power in some things left in the
371 210    |         experiments made of arbitrary power, and that religion underhand
372 213    |           commonwealth who misuse the power they have; it is hard to
373 213    |          constant, supreme, executive power, and with it the power of
374 213    |      executive power, and with it the power of convoking and dissolving
375 214    |             disowns and overturns the power by which they were made,
376 215    |             the due exercise of their power, the legislative is truly
377 216    |                When, by the arbitrary power of the prince, the electors,
378 217    |               subjection of a foreign power, either by the prince, or
379 217    |            they are given up into the power of another.~
380 218    |             of government, having the power of dissolving the other
381 219    |             has the supreme executive power, neglects and abandons that
382 219    |             rights, nor any remaining power within the community to
383 220    |           delivered over to a foreign power, their old one is gone,
384 222    |             the society, to limit the power, and moderate the dominion,
385 222    |             legislative should have a power to destroy that which every
386 222    |               slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into
387 222    |             of any other, an absolute power over the lives, liberties,
388 222    |             of trust they forfeit the power the people had put into
389 222    |             doubt what is doing. What power they ought to have in the
390 224    |            the ill usage of arbitrary power, cry up their governors,
391 226    |               that this doctrine of a power in the people of providing
392 226    |         rebels: which they who are in power, (by the pretence they have
393 227    |               take away this decisive power, which no body can have,
394 227    |             set up, and introducing a power which the people hath not
395 228    |           Polyphemus, who had now the power over them.~
396 229    |        exorbitant in the use of their power, and employ it for the destruction,
397 230    |             and exercise an arbitrary power over their people; whether
398 231    |             by the law, had thereby a power to break those laws, by
399 232    |            that great assertor of the power and sacredness of kings,
400 234    |               advocate of monarchical power allows of resistance.~
401 237    |               and he that resists the power, resists the ordinance of
402 237    |         therefore can never come by a power over him, unless he does
403 237    |         become free and superior, the power which they had in the interregnum,
404 237    |        becomes no king, and loses all power and regal authority over
405 237    |             consequently forfeits the power of governing his subjects,
406 238    |         carefully preserved, into the power and dominion of a foreign
407 238    |         kingdom, he himself loses the power he had in it before, without
408 239    |                What he adds, into the power and dominion of a foreign
409 239    |              a great stickler for the power and prerogative of princes,
410 239    |             princes may forfeit their power, and their title to the
411 240    |             deputed him, have still a power to discard him, when he
412 243    |            Sec. 243. To conclude, The power that every individual gave
413 243    |           provided a legislative with power to continue for ever, they
414 243    |              given up their political power to the legislative, and
415 243    |    legislative, and made this supreme power in any person, or assembly,