state of nature

(noun)

The state of nature is a term in political philosophy used in social contract theories to describe the hypothetical condition that preceded governments.

Related Terms

Examples of state of nature in the following topics:

  • Liberty

    • There are different conceptions of liberty, which articulate the relationship of individuals to society in varying ways, including some which relate to life under a "social contract" or to existence in a "state of nature," and some which see the active exercise of freedom and rights as essential to liberty.
    • The concept of liberty plays a very important role in social contract theory, particularly in its discussion of sovereignty and natural rights.
    • The conception of law as a relationship between individuals, rather than families, came to the fore, and with it the increasing focus on individual liberty as a fundamental reality, given by "Nature and Nature's God," which, in an ideal state, would be as expansive as possible.
    • The concept of liberty has long been a central aspect of the political self-definition in the United States.
    • The founders of the United States were heavily influenced by the writings of John Locke, who had declared in Two Treatises of Government that under natural law, all people have the right to life, liberty, and estate.

  • The Bill of Rights

    • The Bill of Rights is a series of limitations on the power of the U.S. government, protecting the natural rights of liberty and property.
    • The Articles of Confederation established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution .
    • Locke also advanced the notion that each individual is free and equal in the state of nature.
    • He expounded on the idea of natural rights that are inherent to all individuals.
    • Like Hobbes, Locke assumed that the sole right to defend in the state of nature was not enough, so people established a civil society to resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government in a state of society.

  • Head of State

    • The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States.
    • The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States.
    • Heads of state in most countries are natural persons holding an office, however in some countries the head of state position is held by a body of persons .
    • Even in presidential systems the head of state often formally reports to the legislature on the present national status, e.g. the State of the Union address in the United States of America.
    • George Washington, the first President of the United States, set the precedent for an executive head of state in republican systems of government.

  • Emergency Powers

    • The president of the United States, as head of the executive branch, has the authority to declare a federal state of emergency.
    • Such declarations usually come during a time of natural or man-made disaster, periods of civil unrest, or following a declaration of war or situation of international or internal armed conflict.
    • This is common at the state level in response to natural disasters.
    • The president of the United States, as head of the executive branch, has the authority to declare a federal state of emergency.
    • Under this act, the president may also deploy troops as a police force during a natural disaster, epidemic, serious public health emergency, terrorist attack, or other condition, when the president determines that the authorities of the state are incapable of maintaining public order.

  • The 14th Amendment

    • All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
    • No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
    • But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
    • No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.
    • But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

  • Types of Media

    • Media in the United States has taken multiple forms and grown in power due to its for-profit nature.
    • Media in the United States comprises several different types of widespread communication: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, and Internet-based websites (especially blogs).
    • Theories on the success of such companies note a reliance on certain policies of the American federal government as well as a natural tendency to produce monopolies in the industry.
    • In 2011-12 the United States was ranked 47th out of 179 countries, which was a setback from the preceding year.
    • The United States has a score of 47.

  • The Twenty-Seven Amendments of the U.S. Constitution

    • The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.
    • These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property.
    • While originally the amendments applied only to the federal government, most of their provisions have since been held to apply to the states by way of the Fourteenth Amendment.
    • The 24th states that no one can be kept from voting because of tax status.
    • The Bill of Rights are the first 10 of 27 amendements to the Constitution, and serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property.

  • Concurrent Powers

    • The United States Constitution affords some powers to the national government without barring them from the states.
    • As Alexander Hamilton explained in The Federalist #32, "the State governments would clearly retain all the rights of sovereignty which they before had, and which were not, by that act, exclusively delegated to the United States. " Hamilton goes on to explain that this alienation would exist in three cases only: where there is in express terms an exclusive delegation of authority to the federal government, as in the case of the seat of government; where authority is granted in one place to the federal government and prohibited to the states in another, as in the case of imposts; and where a power is granted to the federal government "to which a similar authority in the States would be absolutely and totally contradictory and repugnant, as in the case of prescribing naturalization rules. "
    • In the Commerce Clause, the Constitution gives the national government broad power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, among several of the States and with the Indian tribes.
    • Supreme Court provided that it raises a federal question, such as an interpretation of the U.S.
    • Constitution or of national law.

  • The Sixth Amendment

    • The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution sets forth rights related to criminal prosecutions.
    • In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
    • Largest Murder Trial in the History of the United States.
    • Scene during Court Martial of 64 members of the 24th Infantry United States of America on trial for mutiny and murder of 17 people at Houston, Texas August 23, 1917.

  • Eligibility

    • The controversial "birther" movement that has questioned the validity of President Obama's American birth certificate is an example of debate involving the natural born citizenship clause.
    • The President of the U.S. must be a natural-born citizen, due to the natural-born citizenship clause of the U.S.
    • Generally, however, natural born citizenship is understood to include anyone who is entitled to U.S. citizenship at birth, even if they are born outside of the U.S.
    • Both chambers of Congress require members to be residents of the state they seek to represent.
    • Constitution limits eligibility for the office of president to individuals who are natural born citizens of the U.S.