Final answer:
Natural rights, the social contract, and popular sovereignty are key concepts in political philosophy, underpinning modern governments and civil society, and emphasizing the importance of the people's consent in the legitimacy of authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concepts of natural rights, the social contract, and popular sovereignty have played a profound role in the development of political philosophy. Natural rights, as discussed by Enlightenment philosophers, are inherent and inalienable, forming the foundation for modern republican government and civil society. These rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property, were profoundly influential in creating political documents such as the United States Declaration of Independence.
The social contract theory, as developed by thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, posits that government authority is based on the consent of the governed and is necessary for a civil society. Despite their differences, these theorists agreed that governments are created to serve the people and protect their natural rights and that these rights can and should influence the nature of governance.
Finally, popular sovereignty is a principle stating that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives. This concept, which is closely tied to republican and democratic ideals, holds that political power ultimately resides in the people.