Second Treatise of Government, Chapter 10 summary
Chapter 10 of 19 · Book 2 · 2 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 10, the argument classifies governments by who holds legislative power, explaining democracy, oligarchy, monarchy, and mixed arrangements as choices available to the community. It also explains how limited grants of power allow a fresh choice of government and defines commonwealth as an independent community rather than a particular political form.
What happens
- When people form a society, the majority holds its power and can retain lawmaking authority to establish a democracy.
- Giving legislative authority to a few creates an oligarchy, while giving it to one person creates a monarchy.
- Monarchy is hereditary when heirs inherit power and elective when the community chooses a successor after the ruler dies.
- The community can combine arrangements or choose a new form when a temporary grant of legislative power expires.
- The speaker defines commonwealth as an independent community and cites King James I for this usage.
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What distinguishes an elective monarchy in this unit?
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