THOMAS AQUINAS, THE THOMISTS AND POLITICAL CONSENT

This article raises two questions: Does Thomas Aquinas have a well developed notion of political consent? If so, have his political disciples employed it? The article argues that Aquinas articulates a version of consent in his writings on custom, the mixed regime, the deposition of tyranny, and the law of nations. The article also finds that many of Aquinas' political disciples John Fortescue, Francisco de Vitoria, Bart tome de Las Casas, and Richard Hooker do not ground their more elaborate systems of consent upon Aquinas' writings.