Final answer:
Locke's social contract theory posits that a government's legitimacy derives from the consent of the governed, whose natural rights must be protected by the sovereign in exchange for the people's submission to authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Locke described the relationship between a monarch and his subjects as a contractual one, known as the social contract. According to Locke, a ruler gains authority through the consent of the governed, and this agreement is the basis for a legitimate government. In this contract, individuals agree to sacrifice a portion of their freedom and consent to be ruled, in exchange for the government's protection of their natural rights, which include life, liberty, and property. Should the government fail to protect these rights, the social contract is broken, allowing the people to withdraw their consent and establish a new government.
This contract reflects a mutual obligation: the monarch must protect the people's interests, failing which the people have the right to overthrow and replace the government. This understanding of governance rejects the divine right of kings and instead emphasizes the central role of the people's representation in government. Social contracts are a fundamental part of Enlightenment philosophy and are crucial in understanding how a monarch's power is legitimized and limited by the needs and rights of the subjects.