The overarching principle underscored by natural rights philosophers affecting modern democracy is the idea that individuals possess inherent rights, such as life, liberty, and property, which are not granted by governments. Philosophers like John Locke argued that the role of government is to protect these rights. This concept is foundational to modern democratic thought, influencing documents like the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It promotes the idea that government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed, establishing a social contract that prioritizes individual freedoms within a collective society.