This paper aims at determining the diverse uses of the expression "political body" in the Spirit of the laws, to precise how Montesquieu considers the political reality, and how he intends questioning it in comparison with the contractualist and jusnaturalist tradition. The relations between the different "political bodies" are essential to constituting the unity of the "political body". The moderate monarchy cannot exist without composing the powers and conciliating them.
Hobbes; Montesquieu; Pufendorf; body; législator; monarchy; political community; unity