John Locke proposed that if a government fails in its obligations, the people have the right to overthrow their government. The government has many obligations in order to keep citizens happy and to obtain their support.
One of the main obligations that the government has is to provide protection for its people. The government is in charge of drafting soldiers, creating armies, and regulating war items and goods. In order to properly protect their people and country, the government has to make sure all of these are in check. Not only will this protect the country from future wars and attacks, but also provide a sense of security to its citizens.
Another obligation the government owes its people is to always be fair and not abuse its power. People have feared their government becoming too powerful and abusing its power for ages, even during the Revolutionary War when the colonists wanted freedom from Great Britain. The separation of powers and checks and balances within the government prevent an abuse of power from happening and keeps the government in check.
