What is the primary responsibility of government as described in the Declaration?

• A. To regulate trade
• B. To collect taxes
• C. To maintain religious uniformity
• D. To protect the fundamental rights of citizens

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that government exists to protect the basic rights people have—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the Declaration, governments are formed to secure these unalienable rights, and their legitimate power comes from the consent of the governed. That focus on safeguarding fundamental rights is what makes this the central duty described. While governments may engage in various tasks, the document sets protecting those rights as the primary purpose, rather than regulating trade, collecting taxes, or enforcing religious uniformity.