Chapter X
Forms of commonwealth depend on where supreme legislative power is placed among the community.
10 argumentative units
- 01The majority can retain power and form a perfect democracy
Locke explains that the majority, possessing the community's power upon formation of society, may employ this power to make and execute laws themselves, which constitutes a perfect democracy.
- 02The majority can delegate power to a few, forming an oligarchy
Alternatively, the majority may place legislative power in the hands of a select few men and their heirs or successors, thereby establishing an oligarchy.
- 03The majority can delegate power to one man, forming monarchy
The majority may instead vest legislative power in a single person, creating either hereditary monarchy (power passes to heirs) or elective monarchy (power returns to the community upon death).
- 04The community may create mixed and compound forms of government
The community is free to compose these basic forms into mixed or compound governments according to their judgment.
- 05Legislative power can be limited in time and reverted to the community
When the majority grants legislative power for a limited time only, it reverts to the community upon expiration, allowing them to establish a new form of government as they choose.
- 06The form of government depends on the placement of legislative power
Locke asserts that because an inferior power cannot prescribe to a superior, the form of commonwealth is determined entirely by how the legislative power is positioned.
- 07Definition of 'commonwealth' as independent community
Locke clarifies that 'commonwealth' denotes any independent community (civitas), not specifically a democracy or particular form of government.
- 08Linguistic clarification distinguishing commonwealth from democracy and city
Locke explains that 'commonwealth' best captures the English meaning of an independent political society, whereas 'democracy' refers to a specific form and 'city' has a different connotation.
- 09Subordinate communities can exist within a government
Locke notes that there can be subordinate communities within a larger government structure, which supports the distinction between a city and a commonwealth.
- 10Justification for Locke's use of 'commonwealth'
Locke justifies his use of 'commonwealth' by invoking its usage by King James I and invites readers to propose alternatives if they prefer a different term.