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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 17 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. Where do governments get their just powers, according to this source?
  2. 2. Why does the Declaration say the people may alter or abolish a government?
  3. 3. What does the word consent mean, according to the word help?
2.In 1776, who were the colonists declaring independence from?
  • A.The President
  • B.The king of Great Britain
  • C.The king of Spain
3.Why do elected leaders have to face voters again after a few years?
  • A.So all the laws are erased
  • B.So the leaders can take a rest
  • C.So the people can keep them or choose someone new
4.Why does a city council hold public meetings before deciding big plans?
  • A.So leaders can avoid voters
  • B.So the plans stay secret
  • C.So people can share their views with the leaders they chose
5.What can citizens do if they disagree with a law?
  • A.Vote, write to leaders or speak at a public meeting
  • B.Hide from the police
  • C.Break the law
6.A town wants a new tax for parks. What would show the people's consent?
  • A.A sign goes up in the park
  • B.Voters approve it in an election
  • C.The mayor's friends like it

LessonPrint · D2.Civ.3.3-5 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Consent of the Governed

Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. From the consent of the governed. 2. Because a government that is destructive of people's rights is not doing the job it was set up for. 3. Agreement.
  2. 2.The king of Great Britain
  3. 3.So the people can keep them or choose someone new
  4. 4.So people can share their views with the leaders they chose
  5. 5.Vote, write to leaders or speak at a public meeting
  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.