What ensures the protection of natural rights for citizens?

The protection of natural rights for citizens is fundamentally ensured by a limited government. This concept is rooted in the belief that the primary function of government is to safeguard the individual liberties and rights of its citizens, such as life, liberty, and property. A limited government is structured so that its powers are constrained by law, often through a constitution, which explicitly delineates the rights of individuals and sets boundaries on governmental authority.

This framework prevents the government from acting arbitrarily or infringing upon the personal freedoms of its citizens. By having checks and balances, limited government enables a system where citizens can hold their leaders accountable, ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected and defended.

Other options, such as unlimited government power or government control over individual lives, can lead to the erosion of personal freedoms and can violate the very rights that should be protected. Likewise, complete autonomy in personal matters, while seemingly appealing, does not guarantee that an individual's rights will be upheld without a structured government in place to provide necessary protections against violations by others.