USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed."

Detailed explanation-2: -Best Type of Government: Because he believed in the ability of people to govern themselves, Jefferson favored giving more power to state governments. Jefferson felt that government power should not be concentrated in one central or federal government, but should be spread out among the individual states as well.

Detailed explanation-3: -The idea of consent of the governed came from political philosopher John Locke (1632–1704), who wrote about the concept in his Two Treatises of Government. Locke argued that a government exists to serve the people, who are all equal citizens, and the people have the right to rebel if the government fails at this duty.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Declaration also says, “governments derive their power from the consent of the governed.” This means that a government can only maintain its power if its citizens want it to. The government should serve the citizens, and not the other way around.

Detailed explanation-5: -“Consent of the governed” refers to the idea that a government’s legitimacy and moral right to use state power is justified and lawful only when consented, or agreed to, by the people over which that political power is exercised.