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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 4 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 the Declaration said all men are created equal. Who was still denied those rights?
  • A.No one at all
  • B.Enslaved people and most women
  • C.Only the king
3.A town wants a new tax for parks. What would show the people's consent?
  • A.A sign goes up in the park
  • B.The mayor's friends like it
  • C.Voters approve it in an election
4.Which words begin the Constitution and show its power comes from the people?
  • A.We the People
  • B.I pledge allegiance
  • C.Four score and seven years ago
5.How do people in a US city give their consent to the city government today?
  • A.By moving to a new street
  • B.By buying a library card
  • C.By voting for city leaders
6.Why do elected leaders have to face voters again after a few years?
  • A.So the leaders can take a rest
  • B.So all the laws are erased
  • C.So the people can keep them or choose someone new

LessonPrint · D2.Civ.3.3-5 · Set 4 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Consent of the Governed

Set 4. 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.Enslaved people and most women
  3. 3.Voters approve it in an election
  4. 4.We the People
  5. 5.By voting for city leaders
  6. 6.So the people can keep them or choose someone new

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