§. 243. To conclude. The power that every individual gave the society when he
entered into it can never revert to the individuals again, as long as the
society lasts, but will always remain in the community; because without this
there can be no community — no commonwealth, which is contrary to the
original agreement; so also when the society hath placed the legislative in any
assembly of men, to continue in them and their successors, with direction and
authority for providing such successors, the legislative can never revert to
the people whilst that government lasts: because, having provided a legislative
with power to continue for ever, they have given up their political power to
the legislative, and cannot resume it. But if they have set limits to the
duration of their legislative, and made this supreme power in any person or
assembly only temporary; or else when, by the miscarriages of those in
authority, it is forfeited; upon the forfeiture of their rulers, or at the
determination of the time set, it reverts to the society, and the people have a
right to act as supreme, and continue the legislative in themselves or place it
in a new form, or new hands, as they think good.
