Final answer:
A government based on the consent of the governed can respect the majority will while protecting individual rights through a system of checks and balances, a written constitution, and the Social Contract Theory. These mechanisms ensure a balance between majority rule and individual liberties, illustrating how governmental power derives from the people and is bound by the ultimate goal of protecting natural rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is indeed possible to have a government based on the consent of the governed which respects the will of the majority while simultaneously protecting the rights of individuals. This delicate balance is achieved through checks and balances, the rule of law, and the Social Contract Theory. According to this theory, the people consent to be governed in exchange for the protection of their natural rights, as long as the government adheres to its part of the agreement.
For instance, the United States implements a system of representative democracy that includes a written constitution, which ensures individual rights and limits governmental powers. Measures like the Bill of Rights explicitly protect individual liberties and minority rights against the tyranny of the majority. Thus, even if the majority decides something that infringes upon the rights of a minority, the Constitution provides a safeguard against such actions.
Moreover, the right of revolution is recognized, meaning if the government fails to protect those rights, the people have the authority to reconstitute the government. This underscores the principle that true governmental power lies with the people and that any exercise of power by the government is legitimate only when it has the consent of the governed and operates within the confines of protecting individual rights.