Which group is identified as the source of government power in the Declaration?

Study for the Founding Documents Test with our engaging multiple-choice questions and detailed explanations. Master key concepts including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights to excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which group is identified as the source of government power in the Declaration?

Explanation:
Public authority in the Declaration comes from the people. The document states that governments are instituted to secure people’s rights and derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. That means legitimacy rests on the people’s approval, not on a church, a king with divine right, or an aristocracy. The text also argues that when a government fails to protect rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish it and establish a new one. So the source of government power is the people, whose consent gives government its authority.

Public authority in the Declaration comes from the people. The document states that governments are instituted to secure people’s rights and derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. That means legitimacy rests on the people’s approval, not on a church, a king with divine right, or an aristocracy. The text also argues that when a government fails to protect rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish it and establish a new one. So the source of government power is the people, whose consent gives government its authority.

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