Each of us is a free and equal person and our freedom can only be limited when we consent to the authority of the state. This consent is an agreement to be apart of a political community ruled by laws.There are many reasons why citizens choose to obey laws or support a given state. Maybe it is easier to follow rules then break them or maybe it is to avoid repercussions, but more explicitly it is because of political obligation. An obligation is seen as a moral duty. If we are politically obligated to obey the laws of a given state, then it is morally wrong to disobey them. Ultimately, political obligations pertains to what the subjects of the state are morally required to do. Citizens have a political obligation to obey the government so that
…show more content…
Locke’s right to revolution within his description of political obligation is one of the important features in the world today. The right to revolution gives citizens the ability to hold their sovereign accountable for their actions. If the sovereign is unable to protect its citizens natural liberties, then they are allowed to dissolve the government without the dissolution of society. Locke says that “self-defence is a part of the law of nature “ (Locke,1689/2011, ch 19.233) and that the people’s right of revolution against tyrannical government falls under this category of self-defence. Thus if this right of revolution is invoked by citizens they are absolved of any further political obligation . This speaks most to people in the world today, because citizens want to be able to overthrow a government who is not protecting their natural liberties. Throughout the world you see examples of citizens rising up against tyrannical governments who are not preserving these rights. Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Libya are among some of the many places where citizens have taken a stand against their countries oppressive rulers. Locke also mentions the limitation of power for the sovereign within Second Treatise of Government. This limitation of the sovereign allows for a check on the governments power. Now a days countries apply several of Locke’s means of limiting the power of the sovereign. In Canada for example, there are periodic elections every four years, a vote of no-confidence, there is a separation of power between the legislative and executive branches and no House of Commons or legislative assembly can continue for longer than five years (Sharpe and Roach, 2005, p.223). Locke stresses that citizens do not want to give the sovereign unlimited power because doing so prevents citizens from having the capabilities of contesting the sovereigns actions. Without being able to dispute
Locke’s right to revolution within his description of political obligation is one of the important features in the world today. The right to revolution gives citizens the ability to hold their sovereign accountable for their actions. If the sovereign is unable to protect its citizens natural liberties, then they are allowed to dissolve the government without the dissolution of society. Locke says that “self-defence is a part of the law of nature “ (Locke,1689/2011, ch 19.233) and that the people’s right of revolution against tyrannical government falls under this category of self-defence. Thus if this right of revolution is invoked by citizens they are absolved of any further political obligation . This speaks most to people in the world today, because citizens want to be able to overthrow a government who is not protecting their natural liberties. Throughout the world you see examples of citizens rising up against tyrannical governments who are not preserving these rights. Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Libya are among some of the many places where citizens have taken a stand against their countries oppressive rulers. Locke also mentions the limitation of power for the sovereign within Second Treatise of Government. This limitation of the sovereign allows for a check on the governments power. Now a days countries apply several of Locke’s means of limiting the power of the sovereign. In Canada for example, there are periodic elections every four years, a vote of no-confidence, there is a separation of power between the legislative and executive branches and no House of Commons or legislative assembly can continue for longer than five years (Sharpe and Roach, 2005, p.223). Locke stresses that citizens do not want to give the sovereign unlimited power because doing so prevents citizens from having the capabilities of contesting the sovereigns actions. Without being able to dispute