social compact
Citizens' mutual obligation
Social compact is a formal term for the implicit agreement between citizens and their government—the understanding that people surrender certain freedoms in exchange for protection and social order.
The concept, central to Enlightenment political philosophy, underlies modern democratic theory: The social compact assumes citizens will obey laws while the state protects their rights.
Also called social contract.
English political philosopher
- LockeEnglish empiricist philosopher's surname
- RousseauFrench surname, philosopher or painter
- state of natureHypothetical pre-governmental human existence
- natural rightsFreedoms inherent to personhood
political philosophy · moral philosophy · enlightenment · common good · civic virtue · autonomy · Leviathan · tacit consent
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- consent of the governedRulers need citizen approval
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
citizenship · sovereignty · democracy · republic · authority · jurisdiction · legislation · policy
Collective of connected people
- collective responsibilityShared blame among members
- interdependenceReciprocal reliance between entities
- solidarityUnity among allies
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
shared values · public good · trust · norms · customs · mutual aid · commonwealth · belonging
Enforceable written agreement
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- accordHarmony between parties
- treatyBinding pact between nations
mutual obligation · pledge · promise · commitment · understanding · consensus · bond · entente
Hobbes
English political philosopher
- LockeEnglish empiricist philosopher's surname
- RousseauFrench surname, philosopher or painter
- state of natureHypothetical pre-governmental human existence
natural rights · political philosophy · moral philosophy · enlightenment · common good · civic virtue · autonomy · Leviathan · tacit consent
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- consent of the governedRulers need citizen approval
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
civic duty · citizenship · sovereignty · democracy · republic · authority · jurisdiction · legislation · policy · public trust
community
Collective of connected people
- collective responsibilityShared blame among members
- interdependenceReciprocal reliance between entities
- solidarityUnity among allies
cooperation · shared values · public good · trust · norms · customs · mutual aid · commonwealth · belonging · inclusion
contract
Enforceable written agreement
treaty · mutual obligation · pledge · promise · commitment · understanding · consensus · bond · entente · concordat
social compacttyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
despotism · absolute monarchy · dictatorship · authoritarianism · totalitarianism
social compactstatutory law
Legislature-made legal rules
written constitution · natural law · common law · judicial precedent · divine command
social compactstate of nature
Hypothetical pre-governmental human existence
anarchy · lawlessness · chaos · disorder · anomie
social, compact, society, societal, socialize, socialization, socialist, socialism, sociable