Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996 12:22:34 -0700 (MST)
From: DIANE S ALLEN <dallen-AT-utep.edu>
Subject: Body politic


I recently mentioned body politic and body proper in a posting I sent to 
this list.  Someone responded, asking for definitions, but I 
accidentally deleted her message.  Anyhow, here goes a tentative 
answer.    

I have always defined these terms very simply (simplistically, maybe).  
"Body proper" is the subject's body, and just that.  "Body politic," 
in the narrowest sense, is the institutionalized dominant power 
structure, i.e., the government.  However, it can be defined to 
include the dominant power structures that are not necessarily 
institutionalized.  For instance, in a family structure, if the 
husband/father is dominant, he might be considered the body politic.  

I am interested in others' opinions on this.  Also, any 
articles/books would be helpful, too.

Diane