Social Contract Theory describes which idea?

• A. People grant the government power to protect their rights by giving up some freedom.
• B. People stay completely free with no government.
• C. The government has absolute power regardless of rights.
• D. Rights are determined by the majority after the fact.

Answer: (A)

Social Contract Theory explains how people consent to government in order to protect their rights. By entering into this agreement, people give up some freedom and accept authority in exchange for security and the protection of basic rights. This aligns with the idea that people grant the government power to protect their rights by giving up some freedom. The other options miss the mark because they describe either no government, absolute power without regard to rights, or rights decided by majority after the fact, none of which reflect the consent-based protection at the heart of the social contract.