Many of today’s developed and developing states have democratic type of government and the United States of America is one of the most prestigious in this field. It is no doubt that it is currently the center of trade and civilization in the world. And, it is believed that it is all because of its practical, unbiased and democratic style of government which is John Locke’s influence.
Perhaps, Locke has really made a great impact on the rule of laws and institutions in USA that its stability is being strongly maintained. In fact, the blueprints of Locke’s write-up can be seen in the American Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Some of his notable influences in these two were the ideas of sovereignty of the people, separation of powers, and the right to rebel of the people. All of these have been the basis of democracy, not only in the USA, but in many parts of the world.
In John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government, he said that a man had a right to protect his life, liberty, and estates. This can also be seen in American Declaration of Independence in July 4, 1776 which had a phrase, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. However, because intrusion of one’s exercise of natural rights to others was possible, Locke proposed that people had to give up their certain freedom in exchange for a stable government in the Social Contract. This shows that the people establish their government in order to protect the Law of Nature that governs them.
When James Madison outlined the Virginia Plan which was later used as the basis of the US Constitution, it was also found out that Locke’s ideas drafted it. Hence, after the ratification of the said constitution on 1788, the American government is already under the principles of separation of powers (where check and balance exists) and the sovereignty of the people that if the government arbitrarily goes against them, they can overthrow it.
Likewise, in the social contract that Locke pointed out, the government has only one type and that is the one whose power is limited. Thus, there is power separation into three branches of the government (executive, legislative and federative). The main duty of the government is to preserve the properties of the people (life, liberty and estates) which need of protection serves as the primary reason of creating a government. It cannot do anything and cannot be legitimated unless the people consented. It should only do what is for the common good which the US Constitution strongly holds. Nevertheless, if the government inflicts a long chain of abuses on the people, the people have the right to rebel against them. And, consequently, the government is not anymore a government.
The right to rebel of the people was also first expressed in the US Declaration of Independence and was used by the Americans against the British government who attempted to pass several excessive taxes and increase more control over the US colonies. They won and were able to build unity and stability in their land. But, the right to rebel, as they used it, was made sure as not only a right but a responsibility. Remember that the US Constitution is based on the common good and the government has no exemption on it. So, if the government, itself, fails to comply with the common good, the people have the responsibility to take over to protect this foundation. Furthermore, if the government cannot move without the consent of the people, then one cannot move without the consent of all. Therefore, one cannot violate the common interest or the common good, or else the law of the commonwealth (which is consented by the people) will impose punishment upon him.
It was indeed great that John Locke proposed an ideal form of democratic system of government where democracy was never a hindrance to the political community. Besides, America has been proving the significance of Locke’s ideas for years and its friend states have also imitated it such as the Republic of the Philippines whose sovereignty also lies on the people and whose people’s revolutions are proven to be powerful. Locke’s notions are the best fence against abusive leaders like when the Right to Rebel has been interpreted as the best fence against government rebellion. Moreover, it was not only James Madison who hugged John Locke’s influences, but also Thomas Jefferson (principal author of US Declaration of Independence), Alexander Hamilton, and other Founding Fathers of the USA who are some of the geniuses in Politics.
Truly, John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government is the backbone of US fame, unity (as ‘united states’ implies) and stability. Hopefully, many modern states today will also use of the same system (with right implementation) so that there will no longer be, or at least lessened, corruption, and other more product of abuse of power.
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