Chapter 7

Having established these particulars, we come to consider next the different number of governments which there are, and what they are; and first, what are their excellencies: for when we have determined this, their defects will be evident enough.

Having established these points, we now turn to how many forms of government there are and what they are. First, we must identify their strengths, because once we have done so, their weaknesses will be clear enough.

It is evident that every form of government or administration, for the words are of the same import, must contain a supreme power over the whole state, and this supreme power must necessarily be in the hands of one person, or a few, or many; and when either of these apply their power for the common good, such states are well governed; but when the interest of the one, the few, or the many who enjoy this power is alone consulted, then ill; for you must either affirm that those who make up the community are not citizens, or else let these share in the advantages of government. We usually call a state which is governed by one person for the common good, a kingdom; one that is governed by more than one, but by a few only, an aristocracy; either because the government is in the hands of the most worthy citizens, or because it is the best form for the city and its inhabitants. When the citizens at large govern for the public good, it is called a state; which is also a common name for all other governments, and these distinctions are consonant to reason; for it will not be difficult to find one person, or a very few, of very distinguished abilities, but almost impossible to meet with the majority [1279b] of a people eminent for every virtue; but if there is one common to a whole nation it is valour; for this is created and supported by numbers: for which reason in such a state the profession of arms will always have the greatest share in the government.

Clearly, every government or administration must have a supreme power over the whole state. The words “government” and “administration” mean the same thing. This supreme power must belong to one person, a few people, or many people. When these rulers use their power for the common good, the state is well governed. But when the rulers consider only their own interests, the state is badly governed. For either we must deny that the community’s members are citizens, or we must let them share in government’s benefits. We usually call a state ruled by one person for the common good a kingdom. A state ruled by more than one person, but only a few, is called an aristocracy. Either the most worthy citizens govern it, or this form of government is best for the city and its inhabitants. When citizens at large govern for the public good, their government is called a state. “State” is also a general name for all forms of government. These distinctions are reasonable. For finding one person, or a very few people, with outstanding abilities is not difficult. But finding a majority [1279b] of the people who excel in every virtue is almost impossible. Yet if any virtue is common to a whole nation, it is courage. For courage is created and sustained by strength in numbers. For this reason, those who bear arms will always have the greatest share in governing such a state.

Now the corruptions attending each of these governments are these; a kingdom may degenerate into a tyranny, an aristocracy into an oligarchy, and a state into a democracy. Now a tyranny is a monarchy where the good of one man only is the object of government, an oligarchy considers only the rich, and a democracy only the poor; but neither of them have a common good in view.

Each of these forms of government can become corrupt in the following ways. A kingdom may become a tyranny, an aristocracy an oligarchy, and a constitutional government a democracy. A tyranny is a monarchy that governs only for the good of one man. An oligarchy serves only the rich, and a democracy only the poor. But none of these corrupt forms of government aims at the common good.