Marsilius Descending Political Power

Marsilius was an Italian political thinker who was also a doctor and philosopher. He and another thinker created the Defensor pacis. This document explained intricate theory of government by popular sovereignty and contested the authority of the Pope and clergy over secular matters. Marsilius supported the dominance of the Empire as a government separate from the church by professing that all political power came from the people, and that the absolute forcible power in a community should be in control of a secular group chosen by popular consensus. The churches discipline did not extend beyond the walls of the church. Similar in beliefs was Martin Luther many years later. He believed salvation was attained through faith by itself and no reason. The Bible was the only source of religious truth. The notion that priests or the Church had special powers was not accepted. All Christians had equivalent opportunity to God through faith and the Bible. Luther translated the Bible into the German vernacular so everyday people could read and study
Descending political power is known to be, a Ruler who is influenced from God, to rule over a people. Everything must go through him and there is no opposition. An example of descending political power would be a tyranny. On the other hand, ascending political power is when the power of the territory is all in the hands of the people, the membership. The officers receive from the people to represent them. The hierarchy of the church and the state have no absolute power. All of the church clergy and representative in secular government are accountable to the members. Popular sovereignty is a perfect example of this because popular sovereignty is the belief that government is created by and subject to the will of the people. The laws are best made by the whole of the people and the community tends to obey the laws