What is a Legitimate Government?

Posted on July 7, 2013

A legitimate government is an individual or group of individuals that the majority of the populace of a state has agreed, even passively, that the individual or group has the right to govern them.

There are some problems and conditions that I believe come with the definition here.
Also I do not consider this definition or the following to be absolute, if you believe something should be modified or added please say so in the comments section.

Conditions:

• Only more than 50% of the populace has to agree that the government has the right to govern.
• The populace can disagree with what the government is doing, but can still agree the government has the right to govern them.
• Formal recognition of the right to govern is not required (as in not every member of the majority has to say they agree to be governed).
• If more than 50% of the populace does not agree that the government has the right to govern then action by the majority must be taken. Silence is considered acceptance.
• If the government has the right to govern, they are still bound by any legal document (laws, constitution) that they followed to get into power or that they create while in power.
• A legitimate government respects the right that its’ power comes from the people and will give up their power when the majority revokes its’ right to govern.
  • It is fair, however, for the government to give itself a chance to plead its’ case before it relinquishes power.
• Giving the right of governance can be based on anything, merit, religion, ancestry, etc…  and the government can do anything it wants with that right, as long as all other conditions are me.

Problems:

• Power to give the right to govern is disproportionally vested in the majority but unfortunately is it the only convenient and fairest way to give that right.
• The minority can have intelligent arguments or even the right views but as long as the majority gives the right to govern to the government, it can not be removed.
• In order to truly judge if the government has full majority support or not it would require a full survey of the entire state’s populace with the exception of children and those who do not have capacity.
  • Unfortunately the definition of children and those who have capacity might be defined by the state, which is an obvious obstruction.
• Fraud and corruption are always possible.