Proper Legislative Functions

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　It is not true that the legislator has absolute power over ourpersons and property. The existence of persons and property precededthe existence of the legislator, and his function is only to guaranteetheir safety.

　　It is not true that the function of law is to regulate ourconsciences, our ideas, our wills, our education, our opinions, ourwork, our trade, our talents, or our pleasures. The function of lawis to protect the free exercise of these rights, and to prevent anyperson from interfering with the free exercise of these same rights byany other person.

　　Since law necessarily requires the support of force, its lawfuldomain is only in the areas where the use of force is necessary. Thisis justice.

　　Every individual has the right to use force for lawful self-defense. It is for this reason that the collective force -- which isonly the organized combination of the individual forces -- maylawfully be used for the same purpose; and it cannot be usedlegitimately for any other purpose.

　　Law is solely the organization of the individual right ofself-defense which existed before law was formalized. Law isjustice.