Leviathan

In the previous chapters, Hobbes discussed the similarities of Common-wealths, and he will now discuss the “parts Organicall, which are Publique Ministers.” A public minister is a person who is employed by the sovereign power to conduct some business on behalf of the common-wealth. A public minister may be given administration of the entire common-wealth or of part of it. A public minister that is given administration of an entire common-wealth is known as Regent or Protector, and such a minister may be employed by an “Infant King, during his minority.” In such cases, a Regent or Protector rules on behalf of the sovereign power.

When a public minister is given administration of a part or province of a common-wealth, that minister is known as a governor or viceroy, and the power they have is dependent upon the will of the sovereign. Other public ministers are given administration of specific business at home or abroad, such as administration of a common-wealth’s “Oeconomy” (their rents, fines, and revenues) or militia (the soldiers, forts, armies, arms, and all things related). Other public ministers are given administration of the education and instruction of the common-wealth, and others are employed to serve as judges and represent the sovereign power.  

In cases in which a member of a common-wealth is tried by a judge and a controversy arises, their disagreement may be heard by another judge, as both the judge and judged are members of the common-wealth and subjects of the sovereign power. In such instances, the sovereign power may hear the case or appoint a second judge. If the sovereign power hears the case, their decision is final. 

Public ministers employed by the sovereign power have authority to apprehend, judge, punish, and imprison subjects of a common-wealth. Public ministers who work abroad on behalf of the common-wealth are known as ambassadors. Anyone sent abroad by the authority of a private political body belonging to a troubled common-wealth is not a public or private minister of the common-wealth, as the author of their actions is not the common-wealth as a whole. Similarly, if an ambassador is sent aboard by a monarch for reasons personal to that monarch, the common-wealth is not the author of that action either.