The covenant between citizens and the sovereign is binding from "summary" of Hobbes: Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
In the state of nature, individuals are in a constant state of war due to their self-interested and competitive nature. Life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. To escape this state of nature, individuals come together to form a commonwealth, wherein they agree to give up their natural right to everything and transfer their power to a single sovereign authority. This agreement is known as the social contract. The covenant between citizens and the sovereign is binding because it is made in the name of all individuals in the commonwealth. By transferring their power to the sovereign, individuals create a single will that represents the will of all. The sovereign is entrusted with the power to make and enforce laws that are binding on all citizens. In return, the citizens agree to obey the laws and submit to the authority of the sovereign. The covenant is binding because it is based on mutual consent and agreement. Citizens willingly enter into the social contract to escape the state of nature and ensure their own self-preservation. By agreeing to the covenant, citizens acknowledge the authority of the sovereign and pledge their allegiance to the commonwealth. The covenant is a solemn and sacred agreement that cannot be broken or revoked without risking the dissolution of the commonwealth. The covenant between citizens and the sovereign is binding because it is essential for the maintenance of order and peace within the commonwealth. Without the social contract, individuals would revert to their natural state of war and chaos, leading to the destruction of society. The covenant binds citizens to each other and to the sovereign, creating a sense of unity and solidarity that is necessary for the common good.- The covenant between citizens and the sovereign is a fundamental principle of political theory that underpins the structure of the commonwealth. It is a binding agreement based on mutual consent, trust, and allegiance that ensures the stability and security of society. The covenant is essential for the preservation of order, peace, and the common good within the commonwealth.
