John Locke's Social Contract

What was John Locke's "Social Contract?"

STATE OF NATURE

Many people are unwilling to respect the rights of others in a state of nature - pre-political society before the setting up of a state characterised by unrestrained individual freedom

ACTIONS OF RATIONAL INDIVIDUALS

An individual can become subjected to the political will of another by obligating to submit to the determination of the majority and to be controlled by it

NATURE AND BASIS OF SOCIAL CONTRACT

The government agrees to govern by national law and respect individual rights, while people agree to accept the authority of government and obey its law

Limit of Social Contract

Should the government not govern by national law, or it should abuse natural rights of life, and property, the people have the right to cancel the contract and dissolve the government

Example:

Can be seen in the liberal representative democracy in the US - this is where all individuals would sacrifice a bit of their liberty to create a system of law and to protect their liberty, enshrined in the codified constitution.