A ruler who acts by private will forfeits all right to obedience

Evidence

But yet it is to be observed, that tho’ oaths of allegiance and fealty are taken to him, it is not to him as supreme legislator, but as supreme executor of the law, made by a joint power of him with others; allegiance being nothing but an obedience according to law, which when he violates, he has no right to obedience, nor can claim it otherwise than as the public person vested with the power of the law, and so is to be considered as the image, phantom, or representative of the commonwealth, acted by the will of the society, declared in its laws; and thus he has no will, no power, but that of the law. But when he quits this representation, this public will, and acts by his own private will, he degrades himself, and is but a single private person without power, and without will, that has any right to obedience; the members owing no obedience but to the public will of the society. — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 188

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines allegiance as obedience to law, not to the ruler’s person — the ruler is only the law’s representative.
• XREF: Contrast with Filmer’s absolute monarchy and direct ground for the Declaration’s case against a prince who has abdicated and dissolved government. — connects to: Oppressed people will rebel regardless of rulers’ divine claims — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 281; The people permanently retain the supreme power to replace their legislative — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 186; Force without authority is a state of war justifying armed resistance — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 192 (+5 more)

Related

• Even absolutism’s own champion concedes a king may forfeit his crown (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• A ruler who makes law objectively subordinates himself to that law. #corroborates (0.85)
• Even absolutism’s own champion concedes a king may forfeit his crown #corroborates (0.82) — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 302
• Sovereign power makes principles rather than obeying them #qualifies (0.80)
• Illegitimate government corrodes trust between ruler and ruled #expands (0.78) — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 1174
• Court ceremonial requalifies the monarch’s daily private acts as sovereign #qualifies (0.75) — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 191