second treatise of government-第22节
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a common…wealth the members of it are distinct persons still in reference to one another; and as such as governed by the laws of the society; yet in reference to the rest of mankind; they make one body; which is; as every member of it before was; still in the state of nature with the rest of mankind。 Hence it is; that the controversies that happen between any man of the society with those that are out of it; are managed by the public; and an injury done to a member of their body; engages the whole in the reparation of it。 So that under this consideration; the whole community is one body in the state of nature; in respect of all other states or persons out of its community。 Sec。 146。 This therefore contains the power of war and peace; leagues and alliances; and all the transactions; with all persons and communities without the common…wealth; and may be called federative; if any one pleases。 So the thing be understood; I am indifferent as to the name。 Sec。 147。 These two powers; executive and federative;
though they be really distinct in themselves; yet one comprehending the execution of the municipal laws of the society within its self; upon all that are parts of it; the other the management of the security and interest of the public without; with all those that it may receive benefit or damage from; yet they are always almost united。 And though this federative power in the well or ill management of it be of great moment to the common…wealth; yet it is much less capable to be directed by antecedent; standing; positive laws; than the executive; and so must necessarily be left to the prudence and wisdom of those; whose hands it is in; to be managed for the public good: for the laws that concern subjects one amongst another; being to direct their actions; may well enough precede them。 But what is to be done in reference to foreigners; depending much upon their actions; and the variation of designs and interests; must be left in great part to the prudence of those; who have this power committed to them; to be managed by the best of their skill; for the advantage of the common…wealth。 Sec。 148。 Though; as I said; the executive and federative power of every community be really distinct in themselves; yet they are hardly to be separated; and placed at the same time; in the hands of distinct persons: for both of them requiring the force of the society for their exercise; it is almost impracticable to place the force of the common…wealth in distinct; and not subordinate hands; or that the executive and federative power should be placed in persons; that might act separately; whereby the force of the public would be under different commands: which would be apt some time or other to cause disorder and ruin。
C H A P。 X I I I。
Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common…wealth。
Sec。 149。 THOUGH in a constituted common…wealth; standing upon its own basis; and acting according to its own nature; that is; acting for the preservation of the community; there can be but one supreme power; which is the legislative; to which all the rest are and must be subordinate; yet the legislative being only a fiduciary power to act for certain ends; 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: for all power given with trust for the attaining an end; being limited by that end; whenever that end is manifestly neglected; or opposed; the trust must necessarily be forfeited; and the power devolve into the hands of those that gave it; who may place it anew where they shall think best for their safety and security。 And thus the community perpetually retains a supreme power of saving themselves from the attempts and designs of any body; even of their legislators; whenever they shall be so foolish; or so wicked; as to lay and carry on designs against the liberties and properties of the subject: for no man or society of men; having a power to deliver up their preservation; or consequently the means of it; to the absolute will and arbitrary dominion of another; when ever any one shall go about to bring them into such a slavish condition; they will always have a right to preserve; what they have not a power to part with; and to rid themselves of those; who invade this fundamental; sacred; and unalterable law of self…preservation; for which they entered into society。 And thus the community may be said in this respect to be always the supreme power; but not as considered under any form of government; because this power of the people can never take place till the government be dissolved。
Sec。 150。 In all cases; whilst the government subsists; the legislative is the supreme power: for what can give laws to another; must needs be superior to him; and since the legislative is no otherwise legislative of the society; but by the right it has to make laws for all the parts; and for every member of the society; prescribing rules to their actions; and giving power of execution; where they are transgressed; the legislative must needs be the supreme; and all other powers; in any members or parts of the society; derived from and subordinate to it。 Sec。 151。 In some commonwealths; where the legislative is not always in being; and the executive is vested in a single person; who has also a share in the legislative; there that single person in a very tolerable sense may also be called supreme: not that he has in himself all the supreme power; which is that of law…making; but because he has in him the supreme execution; from whom all inferior magistrates derive all their several subordinate powers; or at least the greatest part of them: having also no legislative superior to him; there being no law to be made without his consent; which cannot be expected should ever subject him to the other part of the legislative; he is properly enough in this sense supreme。 But yet it is to be observed; that tho' oaths of allegiance and fealty are taken to him; it is not to him as supreme legislator; but as supreme executor of the law; made by a joint power of him with others; allegiance being nothing but an obedience according to law; which when he violates; he has no right to obedience; nor can claim it otherwise than as the public person vested with the power of the law; and so is to be considered as the image; phantom; or representative of the common…wealth; acted by the will of the society; declared in its laws; and thus he has no will; no power; but that of the law。 But when he quits this representation; this public will; and acts by his own private will; he degrades himself; and is but a single private person without power; and without will; that has any right to obedience; the members owing no obedience but to the public will of the society。 Sec。 152。 The executive power; placed any where but in a person that has also a share in the legislative; is visibly subordinate and accountable to it; and may be at pleasure changed and displaced; so that it is not the supreme executive power; that is exempt from subordination; but the supreme executive power vested in one; who having a share in the legislative; has no distinct superior legislative to be subordinate and accountable to; farther than he himself shall join and consent; so that he is no more subordinate than he himself shall think fit; which one may certainly conclude will be but very little。 Of other ministerial and subordinate powers in a commonwealth; we need not speak; they being so multiplied with infinite variety; in the different customs and constitutions of distinct commonwealths; that it is impossible to give a particular account of them all。 Only thus much; which is necessary to our present purpose; we may take notice of concerning them; that they have no manner of authority; any of them; beyond what is by positive grant and commission delegated to them; and are all of them accountable to some other power in the common…wealth。 Sec。 153。 It is not necessary; no; nor so much as convenient; that the legislative should be always in being; but absolutely necessary that the executive power should; because there is not always need of new laws to be made; but always need of execution of the laws that are made。 When the legislative hath put the execution of the laws; they make; into other hands; they have a power still to resume it out of those hands; when they find cause; and to punish for any maladministration against the laws。 The same holds also in regard of the federative power; that and the executive being both ministerial and subordinate to the legislative; which; as has been shewed; in a constituted common…wealth is the supreme。 The legislative also in this case
being supposed to consist of several persons; (for if it be a single person; it cannot but be always in being; and so will; as supreme; naturally have the supreme executive power; together with the legislative) may assemble; and exercise their legislature; at the times that either their original constitu