The sovereign has the authority to interpret the laws from "summary" of Hobbes: Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
In the exercise of the sovereign power, which is the supreme power of making laws, there is no judge of what is right or wrong, just or unjust, equal or unequal, but the sovereign itself. For the sovereign is the public soul, giving life and motion to the commonwealth. And just as the soul gives life and motion to the body, so too does the sovereign give life and motion to the laws. The interpretation of laws belongs to him who makes them. And since the sovereign is the maker of the laws, he is also the interpreter of them. To interpret the laws is not a distinct power from making them, but the application of them to particular cases. Just as the application of a rule to a particular case is not a distinct act from the making of the rule itself, but the exercise of the same power in a different manner. The sovereign's authority to interpret the laws is necessary for the preservation of order and the common good. For if there were no final arbiter of the law, every man would be a judge in his own case, and...Similar Posts
Punishment sends a clear message to potential offenders
Punishment serves as a powerful tool in deterring potential offenders and preventing future crimes. When individuals witness ot...
Public reason
The idea of public reason plays a central role in the political conception of justice that I advance in this work. Public reaso...
Human rights and equality have played a role in reducing violence
The idea that human rights and equality have contributed to decreasing violence is not as counterintuitive as it may seem. When...
Globalization impacts political systems
Globalization has had a profound impact on political systems around the world. The interconnectedness brought about by technolo...
The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech
The Constitution of India upholds the fundamental right to freedom of speech, which is considered an essential pillar of democr...
The media tends to exaggerate the prevalence of violence
The media tends to exaggerate the prevalence of violence. Every day the news is filled with stories of murder, assault, terrori...
Judicial decisions influence future cases
In the common law system, judicial decisions play a crucial role in shaping the development of legal principles over time. When...
Political revolutions and reform
Political revolutions and reform have been a significant aspect of human history, shaping the course of nations and societies. ...