John Locke
1690
Introduction
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 Rule of Law
 Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence
 Not to find our new principles
 Place before men the common sense of the subject
 Locke’s emphasis
 Property rights
 Right of the people to dissolve government
Summary
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 Man is born in a natural state of freedom
 Each with an equal state of sovereignty
 Abuse of freedom can hurt others
 Government for the good of others
 With the collective power to punish
 Punishment should only be to correct
 Punishment should be equal
Summary

 We are willing to give up freedom to preserve our
property
 Protecting property is the purpose for government
 We need to establish law, but some will not follow
 We need unbiased judges, but they have agendas too
 We need authority, but it can be abused
Summary

 Governments are born from our inability to live well
 We all have the natural powers of preservation and
punishment
 We make laws together to preserve better
 Working together gets more done
 Keep it together, but enter into a new agreement if it
makes life better
Summary

 First, establish a legislative power that is under the
rule of law as well
 These are the rules for governing
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Fairness
For all good
Consent for taxation
Public access
Summary

 People can resist a legislative that works contrary to
the rules
 Our natural rights allow us to resist an oppressor
 The people will judge if the government broke their
trust
 Individuals give up authority so long as the
government is functioning, but if it does not they can
replace it