Why did Locke believe government required the consent of the governed?

In John Locke’s political theory, government requires the consent of the governed because all individuals are naturally free and equal in the state of nature.12

Because there is no natural hierarchy, no person has an inherent right to rule over another. While individuals are bound by the law of nature to respect the life, liberty, and property of others, the state of nature lacks an impartial authority to enforce these laws, often leading to injustice and violence.134

To remedy this, individuals enter into a social contract to establish a civil government. For this government to be legitimate, it must be created by the common consent of the people, who delegate their power to a central authority for the sole purpose of protecting their natural rights and the public good. Because the government’s authority is derived entirely from this trust, it remains limited; if it fails to protect these rights, the people retain the right to withdraw their consent and replace the government.1254