Who wrote the Second Treatise of Government?

• A. Karl Marx
• B. Rousseau
• C. John Locke
• D. Thomas Hobbes

Answer: (C)

The main idea tested here is recognizing who authored a foundational work that argues government exists by the consent of the governed to protect natural rights. The Second Treatise of Government was written by John Locke. Locke’s ideas about natural rights (life, liberty, property), the social contract, and legitimate government based on the consent of the people deeply influenced liberal political philosophy and the shaping of constitutional government.

Other thinkers wrote different works with different emphases: Karl Marx is known for critiques of capitalism and communism; Rousseau wrote The Social Contract and other works that explore the general will and civic liberty; Thomas Hobbes authored Leviathan, arguing for a strong sovereign to avoid chaos. These distinctions help show why Locke is the correct author for this treatise.