According to Machiavelli, stability requires what else besides good laws?

• A. Divine right and popular consent
• B. Weak laws and frequent revolts
• C. Limited government and economic growth
• D. Good laws and good arms

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that political stability depends on both a functional legal framework and a capable military. Laws set the rules and create order, but they only matter if the state has the means to defend them and enforce them. A ruler with good laws but no reliable military leaves the state vulnerable to external conquest or internal rebellion and undermines the authority those laws aim to establish. Conversely, a strong, disciplined army without solid laws can lead to a ruler who crushes dissent or uses power capriciously. For Machiavelli, the combination of good laws and good arms—the means to enforce laws, deter rivals, and protect the realm—creates lasting stability.