A) attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us INCORRECT This excerpt refers to the colonists' grievances against the British Parliament for imposing laws and taxes without representation. It highlights the abuse of power but does not directly address the source of governmental authority. The principle of popular sovereignty is about the origin of power, not its misuse. While this grievance supports the case for independence, it does not articulate the idea that government's legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed.
B) reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement INCORRECT This phrase is part of the Declaration's appeal to the British people, recounting the colonists' efforts to explain their situation. It does not contain a philosophical statement about the nature of government or the basis of its authority. It is a rhetorical device aimed at justifying the colonists' actions, not a foundational principle. Therefore, it does not support the principle of popular sovereignty.
C) deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed CORRECT This excerpt is the clearest expression of popular sovereignty in the Declaration of Independence. It asserts that governments are instituted to secure the rights of the people and that their just powers come from the consent of the governed. This phrase encapsulates the Enlightenment idea that political authority is not divinely ordained but is granted by the people. It is a direct statement of the principle that the people are the ultimate source of governmental power, and it has become a cornerstone of democratic theory and practice.
D) Governments long established should not be changed INCORRECT This excerpt appears in the Declaration to caution against hasty changes in government, but it is not a statement of popular sovereignty. It acknowledges that people are more disposed to suffer than to right themselves by abolishing forms to which they are accustomed. This reflects a conservative caution, not a principle of governance. While it implies that change should be based on the will of the people, it does not directly assert that governmental power derives from consent. Thus, it does not support the principle as clearly as option C.
