Final answer:
The agreement in question is known as a 'social contract,' a theoretical concept where individuals give up certain freedoms in exchange for protection of their remaining rights by the government. It was developed by philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau and forms the basis of many modern democratic governments, including the foundational principles of the Bill of Rights in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept you are referring to is known as a social contract. The social contract is a theory that originated during the Enlightenment period, primarily with philosophers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This theoretical contract holds that individuals consent to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the government in return for protection of their remaining rights. The agreement between people and their leaders, whereby the people give up some liberties so that their other liberties will be protected, serves as a foundation for modern democratic societies and constitutional governments.
According to Locke, individuals enter into this contract with the expectation that their natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property, will be safeguarded by the state. If the government fails to protect these rights, Locke argued that citizens have the right to overthrow it. Rousseau expanded on this concept, suggesting that the collective agreement among the people forms the general will, which should direct the state to serve the public good.
Ultimately, the social contract symbolizes the delicate balance between individual freedoms and the rule of law necessary to protect those freedoms. The Bill of Rights in the United States, for example, is an embodiment of the social contract, listing the freedoms granted to individuals and the limitations imposed on the government.