Questions: In his Two Treatises of Government, John Locke argued that (A) legitimate government authority is conditional and contractual. (B) wealth should be distributed equally among all members of society. (C) the theory upholding the absolute, divine right of kings was unassailable. (D) no group of people has the right to dissolve civil society. (E) kings should hold absolute power, same as fathers in their households.

The answer is (A): legitimate government authority is conditional and contractual.

Explanation for each option:

(A) Legitimate government authority is conditional and contractual.

• This is correct. In his "Two Treatises of Government," John Locke argued that government authority is based on a social contract. According to Locke, individuals consent to form a government to protect their natural rights (life, liberty, and property). If the government fails to protect these rights, the people have the right to dissolve it.

(B) Wealth should be distributed equally among all members of society.

• This is incorrect. Locke did not advocate for the equal distribution of wealth. Instead, he emphasized the protection of private property as a natural right. He believed that individuals have the right to acquire and own property through their labor.

(C) The theory upholding the absolute, divine right of kings was unassailable.

• This is incorrect. Locke explicitly challenged the divine right of kings, which was a central tenet of the absolutist theory of monarchy. He argued against the idea that monarchs have a God-given right to rule without the consent of the governed.

(D) No group of people has the right to dissolve civil society.

• This is incorrect. Locke argued that if a government fails to protect the natural rights of its citizens, the people have the right to dissolve it and form a new government. This is a key aspect of his theory of the social contract.

(E) Kings should hold absolute power, same as fathers in their households.

• This is incorrect. Locke rejected the analogy between the authority of kings and the authority of fathers over their households. He argued against absolute monarchy and in favor of a government with limited powers, accountable to the people.