The Social Contract · Chapter
XII: How the Sovereign Authority Maintains Itself explained
Rousseau argues that the Sovereign, possessing only legislative power, can act solely through laws which are authentic acts of the general will, and thus the people must assemble.
What happens
Rousseau argues that the Sovereign, possessing only legislative power, can act solely through laws which are authentic acts of the general will, and thus the people must assemble. He counters the objection that popular assemblies are impractical by citing the Roman Republic, where the people frequently gathered to exercise sovereignty and even governmental functions, concluding that what has been done proves what is possible.
Themes in this chapter
The General Will
Laws are described as authentic acts of the general will, which the Sovereign enforces through popular assembly.
Sovereignty and Government
The Sovereign's authority is limited to legislative power, and its maintenance requires the assembled people to exercise sovereignty and sometimes governmental functions.
Characters to notice
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Author and narrator, arguing for the necessity of popular assemblies and refuting objections with historical examples.
Key passages
“The Sovereign, having no force other than the legislative power, acts only by means of the laws; and the laws being solely the authentic acts of the general will, the Sovereign cannot act save when the people is assembled.”
Since the Sovereign's only power is to legislate, and laws are expressions of the general will, the people must gather together for the Sovereign to function.
Rousseau establishes the necessity of popular assemblies for the exercise of sovereignty.
“The bounds of possibility, in moral matters, are less narrow than we imagine: it is our weaknesses, our vices and our prejudices that confine them.”
What is morally possible is broader than we think; our own flaws and biases limit our perception of what can be achieved.
Rousseau challenges the objection that large assemblies are impossible, attributing such skepticism to human failings.
“If we went back to the earliest history of nations, we should find that most ancient governments, even those of monarchical form, such as the Macedonian and the Frankish, had similar councils.”
Looking at early history, most ancient governments, including monarchies like Macedonia and the Franks, also held popular councils.
Rousseau supports his argument by citing historical precedents for assemblies in various forms of government.