--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Legislative cannot transfer the Power…" description: "\"The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For it being but a delegated Power from the People, they who have it, cann..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/john-locke-814_commonwealth_the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-powe_615123.png" --- # The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws… ![“The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For it being but a delegated Power from the People, they who have it, cannot pass it over to others. The People alone can appoint the Form of the Commonwealth, which is by Constituting the Legislative, and appointing in…” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/john-locke-814_commonwealth_the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-powe_615123.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/john-locke-814_commonwealth_the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-powe_615123.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/john-locke-814_commonwealth_the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-powe_615123.png) > “The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For it being but a delegated Power from the People, they who have it, cannot pass it over to others. The People alone can appoint the Form of the Commonwealth, which is by Constituting the Legislative, and appointing in whose hands that shall be.” [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The legislature holds only a delegated authority from the people and cannot transfer that law‑making power to others. **In simple terms:** Legislature cannot give away its law‑making power. Key Takeaway Preserve popular sovereignty. Themes politics law sovereignty Mood serious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - parliamentary reform - constitutional design - citizen activism Key Concepts social contract delegated authority Questions to Reflect On - Who truly holds legislative power? - How to ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Power cannot be truly transferred without consent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) [Commonwealth Constituting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth-constituting-4988840/) [Constituting Legislative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constituting-legislative-4988839/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Legislative Appointing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislative-appointing-4988841/) [Legislative Transfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislative-transfer-4988838/) [Making Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-laws-592508/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Transfers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transfers/) ## Related quotes > [The power of the legislative being derived from the people by a positive voluntary grant and institution, can be no other than what that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-power-of-the-legislative-being-derived-from-the-people-by-a/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [And because it may be too great a temptation to human frailty, apt to grasp at power, for the same persons, who have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/and-because-it-may-be-too-great-a-temptation-to-human-frailty-apt-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [The Commonwealth of Learning is not at this time without Master-Builders, whose mighty Designs, in advancing the Sciences, will leave lasting Monuments to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-commonwealth-of-learning-is-not-at-this-time-without-master/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [..every Man has a Property in his own Person. This no Body has any Right to but himself. The Labour of his Body, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/every-man-has-a-property-in-his-own-person-this-no-body-has-any-right/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/government-implies-the-power-of-making-laws-it-is-essential-to-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [ I flatter myself \[we\] have in this country extinguished forever the ambitious hope of making laws for the human mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/i-flatter-myself-we-have-in-this-country-extinguished-forever-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It will not do to say that it is out of woman's sphere to assist in making laws, for if that were so, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-bloomer/it-will-not-do-to-say-that-it-is-out-of-woman-s-sphere-to-assist-in/) [Amelia Bloomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-bloomer/) > [They say making laws is like making sausages. You shouldn't watch. It's the same for acting, especially for the actor who works unconsciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-asner/they-say-making-laws-is-like-making-sausages-you-shouldn-t-watch-it-s/) [Ed Asner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-asner/) > [Sunlight is better than secrecy when it comes to making laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/sunlight-is-better-than-secrecy-when-it-comes-to-making-laws/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [There's a lot of insincerity about the actions of our legislators; they create distractions - like this anti-gay law you alluded to - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/there-s-a-lot-of-insincerity-about-the-actions-of-our-legislators/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [Through his spoken word, man is continually making laws for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/through-his-spoken-word-man-is-continually-making-laws-for-himself/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [Men alone are not capable of making laws for men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/men-alone-are-not-capable-of-making-laws-for-men-and-women/) [Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/) > [You don't need lawyers making laws. Regular citizens can make laws. Let the lawyers work under the laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/you-don-t-need-lawyers-making-laws-regular-citizens-can-make-laws-let/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [“This system is called the " system of checks and balances," because each department of the government is supposed to be a check upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-system-is-called-the-system-of-checks-and-balances-because-each/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The function of the creative artist consists of making laws, not in following laws already made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferruccio-busoni/the-function-of-the-creative-artist-consists-of-making-laws-not-in/) [Ferruccio Busoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferruccio-busoni/) ## More by John Locke > [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [I pretend not to teach, but to inquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-pretend-not-to-teach-but-to-inquire/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If we trace the progress of our minds, and with attention observe how it repeats, adds together, and unites its simple ideas received from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-we-trace-the-progress-of-our-minds-and-with-attention-observe-how/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Thus parents, by humouring and cockering them when little, corrupt the principles of nature in their children, and wonder afterwards to taste the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/thus-parents-by-humouring-and-cockering-them-when-little-corrupt-the/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [ “\[M\]an is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/m-an-is-not-permitted-without-censure-to-follow-his-own-thoughts-in/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/fashion-for-the-most-part-is-nothing-but-the-ostentation-of-riches/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/when-we-know-our-own-strength-we-shall-the-better-know-what-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/every-man-has-a-property-in-his-own-person-this-nobody-has-a-right-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“Earthly minds, like mud-walls, resist the strongest batteries: And though perhaps sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/earthly-minds-like-mud-walls-resist-the-strongest-batteries-and/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“To avoid this state of war (wherein there is no appeal but to heaven, and wherein every the least difference is apt to end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/to-avoid-this-state-of-war-wherein-there-is-no-appeal-but-to-heaven/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-by-gaining-knowledge-we-destroy-our-health-we-labour-for-a-thing/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“don’t let the things you don’t have prevent you from using the things you do have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/don-t-let-the-things-you-don-t-have-prevent-you-from-using-the-things/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Power to do good is the true and lawful act of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men are little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/power-to-do-good-is-the-true-and-lawful-act-of-aspiring-for-good/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [The body of People may with Respect resist intolerable Tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-body-of-people-may-with-respect-resist-intolerable-tyranny/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Anger is uneasiness or discomposure of the mind upon the receipt of any injury, with a present purpose of revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/anger-is-uneasiness-or-discomposure-of-the-mind-upon-the-receipt-of/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) [Explore all 355 John Locke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## More Commonwealth quotes > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [ Brian Mulroney, myself, \[and\] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core \[of the Commonwealth \]. That was the engine room, I reckon. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i-think-that-was-the-real-core/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Members in the Commonwealth of God are not bound together by the specifics of their religion, for the nature of our interdependency does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-church/members-in-the-commonwealth-of-god-are-not-bound-together-by-the/) [Forrest Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-church/) > [I would like to thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for the very fair manner in which this matter has been dealt with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-collins/i-would-like-to-thank-the-commonwealth-games-federation-for-the-very/) [Kim Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-collins/) > [Though bachelors be the strongest stakes, married men are the best binders, in the hedge of the commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/though-bachelors-be-the-strongest-stakes-married-men-are-the-best/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [Believing that I was born for the service of mankind, and regarding the care of the commonwealth as a kind of common property which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/believing-that-i-was-born-for-the-service-of-mankind-and-regarding/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I am prepared to resort to anything, to submit to anything, for the sake of the commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/i-am-prepared-to-resort-to-anything-to-submit-to-anything-for-the/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a divine commonwealth holiness must have the principal honor and encouragement, and a great difference be made between the precious and the vile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/in-a-divine-commonwealth-holiness-must-have-the-principal-honor-and/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [And who can doubt that it will lead to the worst disorders when minds created free by God are compelled to submit slavishly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/and-who-can-doubt-that-it-will-lead-to-the-worst-disorders-when-minds/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [In Boston, we don't lead by ourselves. We lead as the capital city and economic engine of a great Commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/in-boston-we-don-t-lead-by-ourselves-we-lead-as-the-capital-city-and/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [If the situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, Britain will argue for Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/if-the-situation-in-zimbabwe-continues-to-deteriorate-britain-will/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [Because silver and gold have their value from the matter itself, they have first this privilege, that the value of them cannot be altered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/because-silver-and-gold-have-their-value-from-the-matter-itself-they/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/what-reason-is-there-that-he-which-laboreth-much-and-sparing-the/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) [Browse all 251 Commonwealth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For it being but a delegated Power from the People, they who have it, cannot pass it over to others. The People alone can appoint the Form of the Commonwealth, which is by Constituting the Legislative, and appointing in whose hands that shall be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Locke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-power-of-making-laws-to-any-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commonwealth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-power-of-making-laws-to-any-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/john-locke-814_commonwealth_the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-powe_615123.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/john-locke-814_commonwealth_the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-powe_615123.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/john-locke-814_commonwealth_the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-powe_615123.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For it being but a delegated…” — John Locke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Locke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Legislative cannot transfer the Power...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-power-of-making-laws-to-any-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-legislative-cannot-transfer-the-power-of-making-laws-to-any-other/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```