Second Treatise of Government

by

John Locke

Second Treatise of Government: Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Whoever speaks of the dissolution of government, should know the difference between the dissolution of society and the dissolution of government, Locke says. The only way in which a society—that being the union people consent to in order to exit the state of nature—can be dissolved is through foreign conquest. Whenever a society is dissolved, a government cannot stand. However, Locke argues, governments can also be dissolved from within, and one way is when the legislative is altered. When the legislative is broken or dissolved, the government cannot stand. 
Locke implies here that a society can stand without a government, as the power of said government goes back to the common-wealth, and the people can collectively rule until they build a new government. Societies, however, can be destroyed if a foreign power takes over and exerts unjust force. Once the people of a common-wealth resist said force, they forfeit their reason and lives, and their former power contract with the common-wealth.
Themes
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
The Dissolution of Government Theme Icon
Quotes
Literary Devices
Whenever unjust laws are imposed on a common-wealth, the people are under no obligation to obey them, Locke claims. If a prince or king applies arbitrary rule to his people, the legislative is thereby altered, effectively dissolving the government. If a prince or king prohibits the legislative from assembling as scheduled, the legislative is altered and government dissolved. When the arbitrary power of the king or prince is altered without consent or common interest of the people, the legislative is altered, and the government is dissolved. Lastly, if the prince, king, or magistrate subjects the people to a foreign power, the legislative is altered, and the government is once again dissolved.
Here, Locke effectively names all the reasons why an absolute monarchy can never be a form of government and is nothing more than tyranny. The very definition of an absolute monarchy dissolves the agreement existing between a common-wealth and its government, which again underscores the illegitimacy of absolute monarchies. In saying this, Locke again implies that subjects of an absolute monarchy are not obligated to follow the arbitrary laws of the king.
Themes
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
The Dissolution of Government Theme Icon
A government may also be dissolved when a supreme executive abandons their rule and laws cannot be put into action. This reduces a common-wealth to anarchy and effectively dissolves the government, Locke contends. In any case when the government is dissolved, the people have the right to build a new government, as a society can never lose the right to preserve itself. A government is again dissolved when the legislative or prince acts in a way that is contrary to the common-wealth’s interest, such as invading personal property or infringing on the people’s lives. When this happens, the legislative puts themselves in a state of war with the common-wealth, and the people have a right to resist as they see fit.  
A society can never lose the right to preserve itself because the people of said society imbue that society with their own innate right to self-preservation, which stands as long as the common-wealth does. Locke again harkens to absolute monarchies when he claims a government is dissolved when the prince acts contrary to the people. Locke not only implies absolute monarchies are not a form of civil society, he also implies absolute monarchies are not a form of government whatsoever.
Themes
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
The Dissolution of Government Theme Icon
While some may surely say that no government can exist if the people are able to resist, Locke says this isn’t necessarily true. People are set in their ways and hesitant to adopt new forms of government. Others say the right to resist leads to general rebellion, but Locke again disagrees. Rebellions and revolutions don’t occur for “every little mismanagement in public affairs.” The right to resist is the best defense against rebellion, as it is legislators who act contrary to the people that are guilty of rebellion, Locke says. 
Locke takes the idea of rebellion here and tips it on its head by claiming that it is those who perpetrate unjust law who are guilty of rebelling against a government and common-wealth. Rebellions and revolutions are reserved for serious mishaps, Locke contends, not every little thing considered unjust by individual people.
Themes
The Dissolution of Government Theme Icon
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The common question, Locke says, is who is the judge of deciding if the legislative has acted against the people? Locke claims the people are the best judges in such circumstances. In conclusion, Locke states the power that each individual gave to the common-wealth cannot revert back to the people as long as the society stands but must always remains with the community, as without this power there can be no common-wealth. Whenever power is forfeited by the government, the people have the right to reign supreme and govern themselves until they build a new government to replace the old. 
Again, Locke reinforces that it is the people who are the most important members of a common-wealth, not the monarch or legislative power. All of the power a common-wealth has to reign over its people is given to the common-wealth and government through the informed consent of the people, and that consent can be revoked when a government fails to act in the best interest of those it has been charged with protecting.
Themes
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
The Dissolution of Government Theme Icon
Quotes