ABSTRACT
On the question of constitutional government and the rule of law, while remaining faithful to Aristotle's principles, St. Thomas goes beyond the letter of his master's thought. St. Thomas' teaching on this matter has to be constructed from the many different passages which touch upon it and which are found scattered throughout the following: the Summa Theologica, the Summa Contra Gentiles, and the treatise On the Rule of Princes. The problem of the best constitution is that of combining the elements of consent and possibility with the perfection of the governing principle—the unity, effectiveness, and stability of the form of government. The political community is one of self-governing men. The end of a political community, the end at which "every lawgiver aims" can be adequately assured only with the help of a law which does not suffer the deficiencies of human and natural law—the divine positive law. St. Thomas attributes to Christianity in politics and political philosophy.
