All men are born free, equal, and autonomous
Argued for tripartite government as the best form
Natural law is innate in humans, part of God's design, and cannot be abolished or altered by any government
Citizens keep their sovereignty instead of giving it to the government
Any law not rooted in the natural law (justice) is invalid
The best form of government is a mix of monarchy and democracy
The right to overthrow a destructive government
A constitution unites a nation by providing not just the shape of government but a shared understanding of the purpose of government
Republics must be responsive to the changing needs of the citizens
Permanent factions (like political parties) lead to revolutions and civil wars when members put the good of the faction ahead of the good of the nation.
Baron de Montesquieu
Aristotle
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Thomas Aquinas
Cicero
David Hume
John Locke
Niccolo Machiavelli
Plato
Thomas Hobbes
