Final answer:
The social contract theory suggests that governments derive their authority from the consent of the people, who give up some freedoms in exchange for security and protection of their remaining rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept described is the social contract theory, which posits that governmental power derives from the consent of the governed. In essence, individuals within a society agree to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the state in exchange for protection of their remaining rights and liberties. This contract is inherently revocable, meaning that if the government fails to protect these rights, or becomes tyrannical, the people have the right to withdraw their consent and institute a new government. Philosophers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Thomas Hobbes each had varying interpretations of this contract, emphasizing different aspects of the relationship between the individual and the state.