THOMAS HOBBES AND THE CONSTITUENT POWER OF THE PEOPLE

Abstract. The paper examines Hobbes's doctrine of representation and argues that implicit in this doctrine is the modern notion of the people as the constituent power of the state. Attention is focused on the progressive evolution of Hobbes's ideas about the multitude, the people, and the constitution of political unity, and on the connection between his doctrine of political representation and his concept of personality. The paper ends by assessing the compatibility of Hobbes's concept of the people as constituent power and his concept of the commonwealth by acquisition.     

THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION*

The creation of an Australian Government Department of the Environment and Conservation represents, I believe, a major step at the national government level towards bringing a new dimension into the decision-making process. The significance of this step remains to be seen. It will depend on continuing acceptance by all levels of government of the need to have regard to environment and conservation matters in making decisions, and it is too soon yet to predict to what extent it will be accepted.