§. 142. These are the bounds which the trust that is put in them by the
society and the law of God and Nature have set to the legislative power of
every commonwealth, in all forms of government. First: They are to govern by
promulgated established laws, not to be varied in particular cases, but to have
one rule for rich and poor, for the favourite at Court, and the countryman at
plough. Secondly: These laws also ought to be designed for no other end
ultimately but the good of the people. Thirdly: They must not raise taxes on
the property of the people without the consent of the people given by
themselves or their deputies. And this properly concerns only such governments
where the legislative is always in being, or at least where the people have not
reserved any part of the legislative to deputies, to be from time to time
chosen by themselves. Fourthly: Legislative neither must nor can transfer the
power of making laws to anybody else, or place it anywhere but where the people
have.
