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Consent of the Governed is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on where a government's power comes from, in the founding documents, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Civ.3.3-5. It prints 6 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 14 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Consent of the Governed

D2.Civ.3.3-5

NameDate

Read the founding document, answer its questions, then circle the best answers.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

The Declaration of Independence

From the Declaration of Independence, adopted July 4, 1776, when thirteen American colonies broke away from the king of Great Britain. These are its exact words. The word help was written for this worksheet. 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, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government… Word help: unalienable = cannot be taken away. instituted = set up. consent = agreement. the governed = the people a government rules.

  1. 1. What does the Declaration say about how all men are created?
  2. 2. Where do governments get their just powers, according to this source?
  3. 3. Which three rights does this part of the Declaration name?
2.What does consent of the governed mean?
  • A.Only soldiers choose the laws
  • B.The king decides alone
  • C.The people agree to be governed
3.Why does a city council hold public meetings before deciding big plans?
  • A.So people can share their views with the leaders they chose
  • B.So the plans stay secret
  • C.So leaders can avoid voters
4.In 1776 the Declaration said all men are created equal. Who was still denied those rights?
  • A.Enslaved people and most women
  • B.Only the king
  • C.No one at all
5.What happens to a government that has lost the people's consent, in a democracy?
  • A.The people must leave the country
  • B.Voters can choose new leaders at the next election
  • C.It stays in power forever
6.A town wants a new tax for parks. What would show the people's consent?
  • A.Voters approve it in an election
  • B.The mayor's friends like it
  • C.A sign goes up in the park

LessonPrint · D2.Civ.3.3-5 · Set 14 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Consent of the Governed

Set 14. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. That all men are created equal. 2. From the consent of the governed. 3. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
  2. 2.The people agree to be governed
  3. 3.So people can share their views with the leaders they chose
  4. 4.Enslaved people and most women
  5. 5.Voters can choose new leaders at the next election
  6. 6.Voters approve it in an election

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Civ.3.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.