The two papers on government written from 1689 to 1690 are Locke's most important political papers. The first article of "On Government" is a refutation of Sir Robert Fellmer's "On Ancestors is on the Natural Rights of Kings". Locke strongly refuted Fellmer's theocracy. Locke advocates that the authority of the government can only be based on the support of the governed and supports the social contract theory. However, he also stressed that the social contract theory can be abolished. In the second chapter, Locke tried to defend the glorious revolution and put forward the theory of proper government, arguing that when the government violates this theory, the people have the right to overthrow its political power. Locke also subtly suggested that James II in Britain violated this theory.

Locke put forward a set of theories different from Thomas Hobbes's "natural state". He advocates that everyone has a natural right, and their responsibility is to protect their own rights and respect the equal rights of others. Through Locke's concept of natural law, people can understand why the rights of others must be respected, including the right to respect the property acquired by others through labor. Because natural law is often ignored in practice, it is necessary for the government to protect it. However, the government's rule must also be recognized by the ruled, and this rule can only be shown under a complete legal system. Therefore, all governments are only agents entrusted by the people. When the agent betrays the people, the government should be dissolved. When established laws are violated or agents abuse their power, the government will betray its people. When the government is dissolved, the people have the right to establish a new government to counter the improper authority of the old government. This situation can also be called "revolution".