And
so, whoever has the legislative or supreme power of any
commonwealth, is bound to govern by established standing laws,
promulgated and known to the people, and not by extemporary decrees,
by indifferent and upright judges, who are to decide controversies
by those laws; and to employ the force of the community at home only
in the execution of such laws, or abroad to prevent or redress foreign
injuries and secure the community from inroads and invasion. And all
this to be directed to no other end but the peace, safety, and
public good of the people.
Chapter X
Of the Forms of a Commonwealth
132. THE majority having, as has been showed, upon men's first
uniting into society, the whole power of the community naturally in
them, may employ all that power in making laws for the community
from time to time, and executing those laws by officers of their own
appointing, and then the form of the government is a perfect
democracy; or else may put the power of making laws into the hands
of a few select men, and their heirs or successors, and then it is
an oligarchy; or else into the hands of one man, and then it is a
monarchy; if to him and his heirs, it is a hereditary monarchy; if
to him only for life, but upon his death the power only of
nominating a successor, to return to them, an elective monarchy.
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