PMS Punjab 2021 Solved Precis

• Statutes (Noun): Written laws passed by a legislative body
  • Contextual Explanation: These are the formal, established laws that define the common good and must be known and agreed upon by all citizens.
• Extemporary (Adjective): Done without preparation; impromptu
  • Contextual Explanation: Refers to quick, unplanned decisions or orders made by a ruler, which Locke argued should not govern society, favouring established laws instead
• Decrees (Noun): An official order that has the force of law
  • Contextual Explanation: Refers to formal orders or commands, particularly those given by an absolute ruler, which Locke argued should not be improvised or made without public knowledge and consent
• Upright (Adjective): (Of a person or their behaviour) strictly honourable or honest
  • Contextual Explanation: Describes the moral quality of judges, emphasizing that they must be honest and of good character to ensure justice
• Disposal (Noun): The action or process of getting rid of something; figuratively, the power or right to use something freely
  • Contextual Explanation: A person's right to control their own property, meaning no one can take or use it without their permission
• Doctrine (Noun): A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group
  • Contextual Explanation: Refers to a widely accepted principle or belief, specifically "No taxation without representation," which emerged from Locke's ideas

The passage centers on John Locke’s political philosophy, emphasizing the formation of civil society and government to protect individual possessions. It describes Locke’s belief in limited governmental power, where authority operates under established laws and respects personal rights, particularly regarding property and labor. In other words, the purpose of the passage is to elucidate Locke’s justification for a government that prioritizes the protection of property rights, showcasing his influence on the emerging commercial class in England during his time.

Main Idea of the Passage

• John Locke theorized that the primary reason people form a political society is to protect their private possessions, necessitating a government whose authority is limited by publicly known laws and which cannot seize assets without consent.

Supporting Ideas Helping the Main Idea

• People establish society and governance to protect their assets.
• The authority of the governing body must not exceed what is necessary for the benefit of the community.
• This public welfare must be maintained through permanent regulations, not temporary orders from a monarch.
• These regulations must be applied by unbiased judges.
• The monarch is not allowed to suspend existing legislation.
• The government cannot appropriate a person's goods without their permission, which includes their physical self and their effort.
• A consequence of this principle is that citizens can only be taxed if they agree to it.

Confused About Main and Supporting Ideas?

Kindly make sure to revise all five lectures on Precis Writing that I have already delivered. In these sessions, we discussed in detail:

• What a precis is and its purpose.
• What the main idea means and how to extract it effectively.
• What supporting ideas are and how to identify them.
• How to coordinate the main and supporting ideas while writing a concise, coherent precis.

Additionally, go through the 20 examples I shared in the WhatsApp groups. These examples highlight the Dos and Don’ts of Precis Writing, and revising them will help you avoid common mistakes and refine your technique.

Precis 1

Locke emphasized that people unite in society primarily to protect their possessions. Authority, therefore, must remain limited to the benefit of the whole community, and laws should be stable, clear, and equally binding, not left to the arbitrary will of rulers. Likewise, they must be carried out by impartial judges. Locke further challenged the notion of absolute monarchy by denying that kings could suspend laws at will. He also affirmed that a person owns not only material possessions but also the fruit of his own labor. And from this principle follows the principle that no one may be subjected to taxation without his permission.

• Original Words in the Passage: 245
• Precis Word Count: 104
• Title: Locke on Society and Property

Precis 2

Locke held that the central aim of civil society is the defense of property, and authority must never exceed the common benefit. Thus, justice requires fixed laws applied by impartial judges, not decrees of rulers. Furthermore, he denied that monarchs could set aside the law and that the government could claim a person’s property or labour without his permission. From this principle arises the rule that levies are valid only when authorized by those who bear them.

• Original Words in the Passage: 245
• Precis Word Count: 77
• Title: Locke’s Principle of Consent

Precis 3

John Locke argued that people establish civil society and government chiefly to protect their possessions. Consequently, the state's authority must be confined to advancing the common welfare, defined by known statutes applied by impartial officials, and the ruler may never suspend the law. Importantly, the government is prohibited from seizing a citizen's assets, which include their physical self and their effort, without permission. This foundational principle dictates that authorities can only collect taxes if the population agrees.

• Original Words in the Passage: 245
• Precis Word Count: 77
• Title: Locke: The Prerogative of Property

Precis 4

John Locke argued that people form society to protect their belongings, and government power must only serve everyone's well-being, guided by clear, agreed-upon laws, not a ruler's sudden decisions, necessitating the need for fair judges. Furthermore, a king, Locke emphasized, cannot override laws, limiting absolute power. Lastly, he stressed that personal property, even a person's work, cannot be taken without his agreement, which means taxes require citizen approval.

• Original Words in the Passage: 245
• Precis Word Count: 68
• Title: Locke’s Views on Government and Property

Precis 5

Locke argued that people establish civil societies and laws primarily to protect their individual holdings. Consequently, governmental power should exclusively advance the common good, prescribed by established, transparent statutes, not a sovereign's impromptu orders. Furthermore, these regulations must be applied by unbiased adjudicators, and the monarch must not be able to invalidate them. He also stressed that personal assets, including one's hard work, cannot be appropriated without explicit permission; therefore, public taxation demands citizen endorsement.

• Original Words in the Passage: 245
• Precis Word Count: 75
• Title: Locke's Doctrine of Consent and Governance

Precis 6

Locke theorized that societal formation primarily secures possessions. State authority, therefore, must serve the communal welfare, governed by transparent, fixed statutes, not arbitrary monarchical dictates. He also asserted the need of an impartial judiciary for fair law administration, along with the crown's inability to unilaterally suspend legislation, curbing absolute rule. Not only this, he also emphasized that private property, including one's effort, cannot be expropriated without individual assent; consequently, taxation necessitates citizen approval.

• Original Words in the Passage: 245
• Precis Word Count: 73
• Title: Locke's Liberal Jurisprudence