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Locke, John

"Second Treatise Of Government"


Sec. 144. But because the laws, that are at once, and in a
short time made, have a constant and lasting force, and need a
perpetual execution, or an attendance thereunto; therefore it is
necessary there should be a power always in being, which should
see to the execution of the laws that are made, and remain in
force. And thus the legislative and executive power come often
to be separated.
Sec. 145. There is another power in every common-wealth,
which one may call natural, because it is that which answers to
the power every man naturally had before he entered into society:
for though in 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.


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