How did Locke connect political power with the public good?

John Locke defined political power not as mere capacity, but as a "morally sanctioned capacity" to create and enforce laws specifically for the public good.123

In his Two Treatises of Government, Locke argued that in the state of nature, individuals possess the right to enforce the law of nature. However, because this can lead to injustice and violence, individuals enter into a social contract to establish a civil society and government.23

This government is legitimate only when it operates through established, reasoned laws directed toward the "peace, safety, and public good of the people". By protecting property and defending the commonwealth from external threats, the government fulfills its moral mandate. Ultimately, Locke’s framework asserts that political authority is limited and derived from the consent of the governed, ensuring that power remains a tool for the collective welfare rather than arbitrary rule.41