96。For，whenanynumberofmenhave，bytheconsentofeveryindividual，madeacommunity，theyhavetherebymadethatcommunityonebody，withapowertoactasonebody，whichisonlybythewillanddeterminationofthemajority。Forthatwhichactsanycommunity，beingonlytheconsentoftheindividualsofit，anditbeingonebody，mustmoveoneway，itisnecessarythebodyshouldmovethatwaywhitherthegreaterforcecarriesit，whichistheconsentofthemajority，orelseitisimpossibleitshouldactorcontinueonebody，onecommunity，whichtheconsentofeveryindividualthatunitedintoitagreedthatitshould；andsoeveryoneisboundbythatconsenttobeconcludedbythemajority。Andthereforeweseethatinassembliesempoweredtoactbypositivelawswherenonumberissetbythatpositivelawwhichempowersthem，theactofthemajoritypassesfortheactofthewhole，andofcoursedeterminesashaving，bythelawofNatureandreason，thepowerofthewhole。
97。Andthuseveryman，byconsentingwithotherstomakeonebodypoliticunderonegovernment，putshimselfunderanobligationtoeveryoneofthatsocietytosubmittothedeterminationofthemajority，andtobeconcludedbyit；orelsethisoriginalcompact，wherebyhewithothersincorporatesintoonesociety，wouldsignifynothing，andbenocompactifhebeleftfreeandundernoothertiesthanhewasinbeforeinthestateofNature。Forwhatappearancewouldtherebeofanycompact？Whatnewengagementifhewerenofarthertiedbyanydecreesofthesocietythanhehimselfthoughtfitanddidactuallyconsentto？Thiswouldbestillasgreatalibertyashehimselfhadbeforehiscompact，oranyoneelseinthestateofNature，whomaysubmithimselfandconsenttoanyactsofitifhethinksfit。
98。Foriftheconsentofthemajorityshallnotinreasonbereceivedastheactofthewhole，andconcludeeveryindividual，nothingbuttheconsentofeveryindividualcanmakeanythingtobetheactofthewhole，which，consideringtheinfirmitiesofhealthandavocationsofbusiness，whichinanumberthoughmuchlessthanthatofacommonwealth，willnecessarilykeepmanyawayfromthepublicassembly；andthevarietyofopinionsandcontrarietyofinterestswhichunavoidablyhappeninallcollectionsofmen，itisnextimpossibleevertobehad。And，therefore，ifcomingintosocietybeuponsuchterms，itwillbeonlylikeCato’scomingintothetheatre，tantumutexiret。Suchaconstitutionasthiswouldmakethemightyleviathanofashorterdurationthanthefeeblestcreatures，andnotletitoutlastthedayitwasbornin，whichcannotbesupposedtillwecanthinkthatrationalcreaturesshoulddesireandconstitutesocietiesonlytobedissolved。Forwherethemajoritycannotconcludetherest，theretheycannotactasonebody，andconsequentlywillbeimmediatelydissolvedagain。
99。Whosoever，therefore，outofastateofNatureuniteintoacommunity，mustbeunderstoodtogiveupallthepowernecessarytotheendsforwhichtheyuniteintosocietytothemajorityofthecommunity，unlesstheyexpresslyagreedinanynumbergreaterthanthemajority。Andthisisdonebybarelyagreeingtouniteintoonepoliticalsociety，whichisallthecompactthatis，orneedsbe，betweentheindividualsthatenterintoormakeupacommonwealth。Andthus，thatwhichbeginsandactuallyconstitutesanypoliticalsocietyisnothingbuttheconsentofanynumberoffreemencapableofmajority，touniteandincorporateintosuchasociety。Andthisisthat，andthatonly，whichdidorcouldgivebeginningtoanylawfulgovernmentintheworld。
100。TothisIfindtwoobjectionsmade：1。Thattherearenoinstancestobefoundinstoryofacompanyofmen，independentandequaloneamongstanother，thatmettogether，andinthiswaybeganandsetupagovernment。2。Itisimpossibleofrightthatmenshoulddoso，becauseallmen，beingbornundergovernment，theyaretosubmittothat，andarenotatlibertytobeginanewone。