State/Laws of Nature.

John Locke explained that in a "state of nature" that people would have the right to 3 things; Life, Liberty and Property. Locke knew that all people are not good, and so the rights of  good people in a state of nature would always be in danger of being harmed or taken away. This is how government is created. The "good" people give up some of their own power to instate a government that is dedicated to protecting the people's rights to life, liberty and property. This illustrates the "social contract" between the government and the governed.

"Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." -- Declaration of Independence

This quote from the declaration of Independence directly explains the "social contract" between the people and the government. Governments are instated by the people to guarantee protection of life liberty and property. Which are the things that all people want/need. If a government becomes corrupt or destructive to the purposes for which it was created the people have the power to destroy or correct their government.

The Declaration of Independence includes 6 points of note due to relevance to this topic. Here I will explain what they mean.

1. "All men are created equal."

This means that all men/women are created with the same rights.

2. "People have certain rights that are unalienable."

This means that the rights we were created with can never be taken away.

3. "Rights include the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

These are the rights that we are born with and that are unalienable.

4. "Governments are made to secure these rights."

This states the purpose of government. Which is to protect our unalienable rights from the baddies.

5. "Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed."

The power government has depends on how much power the public/governed gives.

6. "People have the right to alter or abolish their government if it becomes destructive of the purposes for which it was created."

If the people don't like the way their government is headed, they can destroy/change it.

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Jack Emmerson