Whoever introduces new laws, not
being thereunto authorised, by the fundamental appointment of the
society, or subverts the old, disowns and overturns the power by which
they were made, and so sets up a new legislative.
215. Secondly, when the prince hinders the legislative from
assembling in its due time, or from acting freely, pursuant to those
ends for which it was constituted, the legislative is altered. For
it is not a certain number of men- no, nor their meeting, unless
they have also freedom of debating and leisure of perfecting what is
for the good of the society, wherein the legislative consists; when
these are taken away, or altered, so as to deprive the society of
the due exercise of their power, the legislative is truly altered. For
it is not names that constitute governments, but the use and
exercise of those powers that were intended to accompany them; so that
he who takes away the freedom, or hinders the acting of the
legislative in its due seasons, in effect takes away the
legislative, and puts an end to the government.
216. Thirdly, when, by the arbitrary power of the prince, the
electors or ways of election are altered without the consent and
contrary to the common interest of the people, there also the
legislative is altered.
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