BOOK Ⅰ．OF LAWS IN GENERAL 1
1．Of the Relation of Laws to Different Beings 1
2．Of the Laws of Nature 4
3．Of Positive Laws 5
BOOK Ⅱ．OF LAWS DIRECTLY DERIVED FROM THE NATURE OF GOVERNMENT 9
1．Of the Nature of the Three Different Governments 9
2．Of the Republican Government,and the Laws in Relation to Democracy 9
3．Of the Laws in Relation to the Nature of Aristocracy 15
4．Of the Relation of Laws to the Nature of Monarchical Government 18
5．Of the Laws in Relation to the Nature of a Despotic Government 20
BOOK Ⅲ．OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE THREE KINDS OF GOVERNMENT 22
1．Difference Between the Nature and Principle of Government 22
2．Of the Principle of Different Governments 22
3．Of the Principle of Democracy 23
4．Of the Principle of Aristocracy 25
5．That Virtue Is Not the Principle of a Monarchical Government 26
6．In What Manner Virtue Is Supplied in a Monarchical Government 28
7．Of the Principle of Monarchy 28
8．That Honor Is Not the Principle of Despotic Government 29
9．Of the Principle of Despotic Government 30
10．Difference of Obedience in Moderate and Despotic Governments 31
11．Reflections on the Preceding Chapters 33
BOOK Ⅳ．THAT THE LAWS GIVEN BY THE LEGISLATOR OUGHT TO BE IN RELATION TO THE PRINCIPLE OF GOVERNMENT 34
1．Idea of This Book 34
2．What Is Meant by a Love of the Republic in a Democracy 34
3．In What Manner the Laws Establish Equality in a Democracy 35
4．In What Manner the Laws Ought to Maintain Frugality in a Democracy 36
5．Other Methods of Favoring the Principle of Democracy 37
6．In What Manner the Laws Should Relate to the Principle of Government in an Aristocracy 39
7．In What Manner the Laws Are in Relation to Their Principle in Monarchies 40
8．Of the Excellence of a Monarchical Government 40
9．The Same Subject Continued 42
10．An Idea of Despotic Power 42
11．In What Manner the Laws Are in Relation to the Principles of Despotic Government 42
BOOK Ⅴ．OF THE CORRUPTION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE THREE GOVERNMENTS 46
1．General Idea of This Book 46
2．Of the Corruption of the Principles of Democracy 46
3．Of the Spirit of Extreme Equality 48
4．Particular Cause of the Corruption of the People 49
5．Of the Corruption of the Principle of Aristocracy 49
6．Of the Corruption of the Principle of Monarchy 50
7．The Same Subject Continued 51
8．Danger of the Corruption of the Principle of Monarchical Government 52
9．Of the Corruption of the Principle of Despotic Government 53
10．Natural Effects of the Goodness and Corruption of the Principles of Government 53
11．Sure Methods of Preserving the Three Principles 53
12．Distinctive Properties of a Republic 53
13．Distinctive Properties of a Monarchy 55
14．Distinctive Properties of a Despotic Government 55
15．Consequence of the Preceding Chapters 56
BOOK Ⅵ．OF LAWS IN THE RELATION THEY BEAR TO A DEFENSIVE FORCE 57
1．In What Manner Republics Provide for Their Safety 57
2．That a Confederate Government Ought to Be Composed of States of the Same Nature,Especially of the Republican Kind 59
3．In What Manner Despotic Governments Provide for Their Security 59
4．In What Manner a Monarchical Government Provides for Its Security 60
5．Of the Defensive Force of States in General 60
BOOK Ⅶ．OF THE LAWS WHICH ESTABLISH POLITICAL LIBERTY WITH REGARD TO THE CONSTITUTION 62
1．A General Idea 62
2．Different Significations of the Word"Liberty" 62
3．In What Liberty Consists 63
4．The Same Subject Continued 63
5．Of the End or View of Different Governments 64
6．Of the Constitution of England 64
BOOK Ⅷ．OF THE LAWS THAT FORM POLITICAL LIBERTY,IN RELATION TO THE SUBJECT 79
1．Idea of This Book 79
2．Of the Liberty of the Subject 80
3．The Same Subject Continued 80
4．That Liberty Is Favored by the Nature and Proportion of Punishments 80
5．Of Laws Favorable to the Liberty of the Subject in a Republic 83
6．Of Things that Strike at Liberty in Monarchies 84
7．Of the Civil Laws Proper for Mixing Some Portion of Liberty in a Despotic Government 84
BooK Ⅸ．OF LAWS IN RELATION TO THE PRINCIPLES WHICH FORM THE GENERAL SPIRIT,THE MORALS AND CUSTOMS OF A NATION 86
1．How the Laws Contribute to Form the Manners,Customs,and Character of a Nation 86
BooK Ⅹ．OF THE MANNER OF COMPOSING LAWS 97
1．Of the Spirit of a Legislator 97
2．Things to Be Observed in the Composing of Laws 97