Skip to content
LessonPrint

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

Next set

One paper per student

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

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 is the Right of the People when a government becomes destructive of these rights?
  2. 2. Why does the Declaration say the people may alter or abolish a government?
  3. 3. Why would the writers say power comes from the consent of the governed?
2.In 1776, who were the colonists declaring independence from?
  • A.The king of Great Britain
  • B.The king of Spain
  • C.The President
3.In 1776 the Declaration said all men are created equal. Who was still denied those rights?
  • A.Enslaved people and most women
  • B.No one at all
  • C.Only the king
4.What happens to a government that has lost the people's consent, in a democracy?
  • A.It stays in power forever
  • B.Voters can choose new leaders at the next election
  • C.The people must leave the country
5.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
6.Why does a city council hold public meetings before deciding big plans?
  • A.So leaders can avoid voters
  • B.So people can share their views with the leaders they chose
  • C.So the plans stay secret

LessonPrint · D2.Civ.3.3-5 · Set 25 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Consent of the Governed

Set 25. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. To alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government. 2. Because a government that is destructive of people's rights is not doing the job it was set up for. 3. To show that a government's power comes from the agreement of the people, not from a king.
  2. 2.The king of Great Britain
  3. 3.Enslaved people and most women
  4. 4.Voters can choose new leaders at the next election
  5. 5.Voters approve it in an election
  6. 6.So people can share their views with the leaders they chose

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