The State must live with other States, both as regards its individual members, and as a collective body; and the power which deals with this aspect of its relationships, Locke termed "federative." This last distinction, indeed, has no special value; and its author's own defence of it is far from clear.

More important, especially, for future history, was his emphasis of the distinction between legislature and executive.

The making of laws is for Locke a relatively simple and rapid task; the legislature may do its work and be gone.

But those who attend to their execution must be ceaseless in their vigilance.

It is better, therefore, to separate the two both as to powers and persons.