Democratising political powers through Locke's Doctrine of Prerogative

Abstract

This essay is an attempt at democratizing, if not completely eliminating, contemporary abuses of 'political powers' by adopting Locke's teachings on 'prerogative powers' for this purpose. While drawing supportive arguments from other academic sources, the essay discusses Locke's 'doctrine of prerogative' specifically paying attention to some of the primitive (animalistic) expressions of political power, as they are found in the political doctrines of immunity, extra-constitutionality, executive veto, extra-legality and the 'sacred cow syndrome', as pliable tools and ready-made excuses, whenever leaders misuse power . The essay contends that whenever there is high-handedness of leaders in a democratic setting, such a state is either a 'despotic family monarchy', which has been disguised as a 'democracy', or under normal circumstances, there is an abusive use of most, if not all of the primitive (untamed) elements of political power. The essay is not only an attempt to mentor political leaders after Locke's teachings as they are encapsulated in his 'doctrine of prerogative'; It further suggests that whatever goes round comes round; hence, if leaders must rule and escape endless attacks and upheavals from their subjects, then, the task is for leaders to re-model their views on political powers, including their 'prerogative powers'; no longer by seeing them as prerogatives and privileges of leaders, but as 'federative powers' of the people, aware that after all, legitimate sovereignty belongs to the people.

Keywords: Doctrine of Prerogative, Prerogative Powers, John Locke, Political Powers, Despotic Monarchies, Civil Democracies