The preamble to the Declaration of Independence outlines the principles upon which the new government would be based. Which of these best describes one of those principles?

The preamble says governments get their just powers from the consent of the governed. This reflects the social contract idea: people agree to form a government to protect their rights, and the government’s authority comes from them. The other choices concern specific grievances or goals, rather than a foundational principle stated in the preamble.

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