"The Sovereign, having no force other than the legislative power, acts only by means of the laws; and the laws being solely the
authentic acts of the general will, the Sovereign cannot act save when the people are assembled." --Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Of The Social Contract, Or Principles of Political Right, 1762. Which concept is central both to the Declaration of Independence and to Social Contract Theory? A) the authority of the government to create a militia to defend its citizens B) the authority of the government should be based on the "Divine Right of Kings" C) the authority of the government should be derived from the consent of the governed D) the right of the government to trade freely and enter into alliances with other nations
C) the authority of the government should be derived from the consent of the governed.
Explanation:
In both of these texts, the idea of consent is present. The authors tell us that the government can only rule in the ways that are indicated by the law. Moreover, the law emanates from the people. This means that only the people have true power, and the government has the right to govern only to the extent and in the ways that the people see fit. Therefore, the government exists thanks to the consent of the people.
