The Social Contract
Rousseau explores the political philosophy of authority originating from the consent of the people.
License
Public Domain
Originally published
1762
Latest release
Jul 28, 2026
Pages
214
Format
6 × 9 in (152 × 229 mm)
Book type
Novel
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Epigraph
- Foreword
- Book I
- I. Subject of the First Book
- II. The First Societies
- III. The Right of the Strongest
- IV. Slavery
- V. That We Must Always Go Back to a First Convention
- VI. The Social Compact
- VII. The Sovereign
- VIII. The Civil State
- IX. Real Property
- Book II
- I. That Sovereignty Is Inalienable
- II. That Sovereignty Is Indivisible
- III. Whether the General Will Is Fallible
- IV. The Limits of the Sovereign Power
- V. The Right of Life and Death
- VI. Law
- VII. The Legislator
- VIII. The People
- IX. The People (Continued)
- The People (Continued)
- XI. The Various Systems of Legislation
- XII. The Division of the Laws
- Book III
- I. Government in General
- The Constituent Principle in the Various Forms of Government
- III. The Division of Governments
- IV. Democracy
- V. Aristocracy
- VI. Monarchy
- VII. Mixed Governments
- VIII. That All Forms of Government Do Not Suit All Countries
- IX. The Marks of a Good Government
- X. The Abuse of Government and Its Tendency to Degenerate
- XI. The Death of the Body Politic
- XII. How the Sovereign Authority Maintains Itself
- XIII. The Same (Continued)
- XIV. The Same (Continued)
- XV. Deputies or Representatives
- XVI. That the Institution of Government Is Not a Contract
- XVII. The Institution of Government
- XVIII. How to Check the Usurpations of Government
- Book IV
- I. That the General Will Is Indestructible
- II. Voting
- III. Elections
- IV. The Roman Comitia
- V. The Tribunate
- VI. The Dictatorship
- VII. The Censorship
- VIII. Civil Religion
- Conclusion