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The Social Contract

The Social Contract

by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Rousseau explores the political philosophy of authority originating from the consent of the people.

Languages
English·Español
License
Public Domain
Originally published
1762
Latest release
Jul 28, 2026
Pages
214
Format
6 × 9 in (152 × 229 mm)
Book type
Novel
Read
Public page

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Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Epigraph
  3. Foreword
  4. Book I
  5. I. Subject of the First Book
  6. II. The First Societies
  7. III. The Right of the Strongest
  8. IV. Slavery
  9. V. That We Must Always Go Back to a First Convention
  10. VI. The Social Compact
  11. VII. The Sovereign
  12. VIII. The Civil State
  13. IX. Real Property
  14. Book II
  15. I. That Sovereignty Is Inalienable
  16. II. That Sovereignty Is Indivisible
  17. III. Whether the General Will Is Fallible
  18. IV. The Limits of the Sovereign Power
  19. V. The Right of Life and Death
  20. VI. Law
  21. VII. The Legislator
  22. VIII. The People
  23. IX. The People (Continued)
  24. The People (Continued)
  25. XI. The Various Systems of Legislation
  26. XII. The Division of the Laws
  27. Book III
  28. I. Government in General
  29. The Constituent Principle in the Various Forms of Government
  30. III. The Division of Governments
  31. IV. Democracy
  32. V. Aristocracy
  33. VI. Monarchy
  34. VII. Mixed Governments
  35. VIII. That All Forms of Government Do Not Suit All Countries
  36. IX. The Marks of a Good Government
  37. X. The Abuse of Government and Its Tendency to Degenerate
  38. XI. The Death of the Body Politic
  39. XII. How the Sovereign Authority Maintains Itself
  40. XIII. The Same (Continued)
  41. XIV. The Same (Continued)
  42. XV. Deputies or Representatives
  43. XVI. That the Institution of Government Is Not a Contract
  44. XVII. The Institution of Government
  45. XVIII. How to Check the Usurpations of Government
  46. Book IV
  47. I. That the General Will Is Indestructible
  48. II. Voting
  49. III. Elections
  50. IV. The Roman Comitia
  51. V. The Tribunate
  52. VI. The Dictatorship
  53. VII. The Censorship
  54. VIII. Civil Religion
  55. Conclusion