Locke’s belief in the social contract between a government and its people meant that

Locke argued that people form governments to protect their natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property. In this social contract, citizens agree to obey the government as long as it protects those rights. If a government fails to do so, Locke believed the people could change or replace it, so the government does not have absolute authority.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.