Which principle is a key idea found in the Declaration of Independence?

The principle that government authority comes from the governed is a fundamental idea expressed in the Declaration of Independence. This concept is rooted in the belief that legitimate government is established based on the consent of the people it governs. Thomas Jefferson, in drafting the Declaration, emphasized that governments are created to secure the rights of individuals and derive their just powers only from the consent of the governed. This idea reflects the Enlightenment thinking of philosophers like John Locke, who argued that individuals have the right to establish a government for their protection and that such a government must be responsive to the needs and will of the people.

Other concepts, while significant in the broader context of American government, do not directly pertain to the Declaration of Independence. Separation of church and state addresses the relationship between religion and government rather than a fundamental principle of governance. Federalism speaks to the distribution of powers between national and state governments, which is more a feature of the Constitution than the Declaration. Judicial review pertains to the ability of courts to evaluate the constitutionality of legislative actions, a practice established later in American legal history. Therefore, the emphasis on consent and authority stemming from the governed is a core principle articulated in the Declaration, making it the correct answer.