# XIV: Of Prerogative explained — Two Treatises of Government

> Chapter companion for Two Treatises of Government by John Locke.

## What happens

Locke defines prerogative as the executive's discretionary power to act for the public good when laws are silent or even against the letter of the law. He argues that in well-framed governments, the executive must have latitude to handle unforeseen events, but this power is limited by the end of government—the preservation of the community. Prerogative is legitimate only when used for the public benefit; when abused for private ends, the people may define it by positive laws. Locke warns that claiming arbitrary power harms the social contract, and ultimately the people retain the right to judge and appeal to heaven when no earthly judge exists.

## Themes in this chapter

### Limited Government and Rule of Law

Locke argues that prerogative must be bounded by the public good and that the people may define it by positive laws when abused, reinforcing the principle that government power is limited.

### Consent of the Governed

The people's acquiescence to prerogative when used for good, and their right to limit it when abused, underscores that legitimate power rests on the consent of the governed.

### Right to Revolution

Locke asserts that when rulers exercise power for harm, the people have no earthly judge and may appeal to heaven, justifying resistance against tyranny.

## Character check-ins

### Hooker

Referenced implicitly through the concept of law and discretion, though not directly named in the excerpt.

## Key lines

> This power to act according to discretion, for the public good, without the prescription of the law, and sometimes even against it, is that which is called prerogative.

Prerogative is the executive's authority to act flexibly for the common benefit, even when no law exists or when following the law would cause harm.

_Locke defines prerogative as a necessary but limited power tied to the public good._

> But if there comes to be a question between the executive power and the people, about a thing claimed as a prerogative, the tendency of the exercise of such prerogative to the good or hurt of the people will easily decide that question.

When disputes arise over whether a claimed prerogative is legitimate, the deciding factor is whether it benefits or harms the people.

_Locke grounds the legitimacy of prerogative in its actual effect on the community._

> The people have no other remedy in this, as in all other cases where they have no judge on earth, but to appeal to heaven.

When there is no earthly authority to resolve a dispute over governmental abuse, the people's only recourse is to appeal to God, i.e., to resist or revolt.

_Locke invokes the right of revolution as the ultimate check on tyranny._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/xiv-of-prerogative
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters