According to the Declaration of Independence, how do governments get their just power
According to the Declaration of Independence, governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed. In other words, the authority and legitimacy of a government come from the people it governs. This concept is known as popular sovereignty, meaning that the power ultimately rests with the people. The Declaration asserts that governments are instituted among men to secure certain unalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, the people have the right to alter or abolish any government that becomes destructive of these rights and establish a new one that better serves their interests.
According to the Declaration of Independence, governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how governments get their just power, as stated in the Declaration of Independence:
Step 1: Governments derive their power from the people.
Step 2: Just powers of the government are derived from the consent of the governed.
In other words, the power of the government is not inherent or divine, but instead is derived from the consent of the people it governs. This concept is based on the idea of popular sovereignty and the belief that governments should be accountable to the people they serve.
According to the Declaration of Independence, governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. This principle is based on the concept of popular sovereignty, which means that the authority of a government is derived from the people it governs.
To find this information, you can refer to the text of the Declaration of Independence itself. The document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and it outlines the reasons why the American colonies were declaring their independence from British rule.
By reading the opening lines of the Declaration, you will find the answer to your question:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
The highlighted phrase makes it clear that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. This concept reflects the idea that the authority of a government is legitimate only if it is given by those it governs, rather than being imposed by force or arbitrary means.
It is important to read and analyze original sources like the Declaration of Independence to understand the principles and ideas they express accurately.