Question

question 1 of 44
read the excerpt below from the declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen, a document that helped inspire many of the ideas behind the united states’ bill of rights. which of the generalizations best follows the excerpt regarding limiting the government’s power?

1. men are born and remain free and equal in rights. social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.
2. the aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. these rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
3. the principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. no body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.
4. liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. these limits can only be determined by law.
5. law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society. nothing may be prevented which is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not provided for by law.

1 declaration of the rights of man – 1789, “the avalon project” yale law school lillian goldman law library http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp

options:
a. governments should never be given the power to strip citizens of their natural liberty and equality.
b. leaders grant their subjects certain rights and cannot take them away.
c. laws should only be passed if they will affect a very small number of citizens.
d. people should be allowed to act in any way they choose without being limited by rules or laws.

Explanation:

• Analyze Option A: The text from the Declaration of the Rights of Man emphasizes natural and inalienable rights (liberty, property, security, resistance to oppression) and that authority comes from the nation. This aligns with the idea that governments shouldn't take away natural liberty and equality.
• Analyze Option B: The text doesn't suggest leaders "grant" rights (implies rights are inherent, not given by leaders), so B is incorrect.
• Analyze Option C: The text focuses on law prohibiting harmful actions, not on the number of citizens affected, so C is incorrect.
• Analyze Option D: The text says liberty has limits (determined by law to ensure others' rights), so D's idea of no limits from rules/laws is wrong.

Answer:

A. Governments should never be given the power to strip citizens of their natural liberty and equality.