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 legitimate power from the consent of the governed. This reflects the idea of a social contract: people agree to form a government to protect their rights, and the government’s authority depends on their consent. The other choices describe specific grievances or goals, rather than this foundational principle.

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