The legitimacy of the sovereign is based on the consent of the governed from "summary" of Hobbes: Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
The legitimacy of the sovereign is grounded upon the consent of the governed, for without such consent, there can be no rightful authority to govern. In the absence of this consent, the sovereign's power becomes arbitrary and oppressive, leading to a state of constant conflict and instability. The consent of the governed is not merely a formality or a passive acceptance of authority, but an active agreement to be governed by the sovereign's laws and decisions. It is through this consent that individuals come together to form a commonwealth, relinquishing their natural right to absolute freedom in exchange for the security and stability provided by a sovereign authority. Without the consent of the governed, the sovereign's authority is illegitimate and unjust, leading to a breakdown of the social contract that binds individuals together in a civil society. This consent is not irrevocable, as individuals retain the right to withdraw their consent if the sovereign fails to uphold its end of the social contract. The legitimacy of the sovereign is therefore contingent upon its ability to secure the consent of the governed through the just and equitable exercise of its power. It is this consent that gives the sovereign the moral authority to govern and the legitimacy to enforce its laws and decisions upon the commonwealth.- The legitimacy of the sovereign is inextricably linked to the consent of the governed, for without this consent, the sovereign's authority is baseless and its actions unjust. It is through this consent that individuals come together to form a civil society, establishing a commonwealth governed by the rule of law and the principles of justice and equity.
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