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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

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