social contract theory
unitary...
John Locke believed that a government's power comes from the consent of the people. He argued that individuals have natural rights that governments must protect, and that if a government fails to do so, the people have the right to overthrow it.
The social contract theory proposes that individuals consent to be governed in exchange for protection of their rights and well-being. The purpose of government, according to the social contract, is to maintain order, protect individual rights, and promote the common good of society. Governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed, as outlined in the social contract.
While many government acts and statutes require the consent of the governed, particularly in democratic societies where laws are created through elected representatives, the enforceability of laws does not solely depend on individual consent. Governments derive their authority from legal frameworks and the social contract, which implies that citizens consent to abide by laws in exchange for order and protection. However, individuals can challenge the legality or constitutionality of certain laws through the judicial system, reflecting a complex relationship between government authority and citizen consent.
The idea that governments exist only by the consent of the people was first popularized by the Enlightenment philosopher John Locke in his work "Two Treatises of Government". Locke argued that individuals have natural rights and can withdraw their consent if a government fails to protect these rights.
The idea that government exists only by the consent of the people was popularized by the Enlightenment philosopher John Locke. Locke believed that individuals have natural rights and that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed.
The social contract theory of government posits that individuals give up some of their freedoms to a government in exchange for protection and social order. This theory suggests that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed and have a responsibility to uphold the rights and welfare of their citizens. It has been influential in shaping modern democratic principles and legal systems.
John Locke
The consent of the governed and the social contract are both philosophies by John Locke. They state that a government's citizens agree to give up some of their personal freedoms for their protection by the government.
"to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,-That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government." Ever since their creation, these ideas have guided the development of U.S. government, including the creation of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The concepts of equal and inalienable rights for all, limited government, popular consent, and freedom to rebel have had a lasting effect on U.S. law and politics.
By consent of the people.