The sovereign's power is derived from the consent of the people from "summary" of Hobbes: Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
The power of the sovereign, that is to say, the authority that is vested in the ruler, comes not from some divine right or inherited privilege, but rather from the agreement and consent of the people. In other words, the people willingly confer their power onto the sovereign in order to maintain peace and order within society. This act of transferring power is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process that is implicit in the social contract. The people agree to obey the sovereign in exchange for protection and the maintenance of their rights and freedoms. This agreement forms the basis of the sovereign's legitimacy and authority. It is important to note that the consent of the people is not given lightly or without conditions. The people retain the right to withdraw their consent if the sovereign fails to uphold their end of the social contract. This serves as a check on the sovereign's power and ensures that they act in the best interests of the people. Furthermore, the sovereign's power is not absolute or unlimited. The people grant the sovereign only those powers that are necessary for the maintenance of peace and order. Any attempt by the sovereign to exceed these limits is a violation of the social contract and can result in the dissolution of their authority.- The concept of the sovereign's power being derived from the consent of the people is a foundational principle of political theory. It emphasizes the idea that rulers are accountable to the people and that their authority is contingent upon the will of the governed. This concept serves as the cornerstone of a just and stable society, where power is held in trust by the sovereign on behalf of the people.
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