Florida Civics Literacy (FCLE) Practice Exam

The authors of the Declaration of Independence believed that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the natural rights of its citizens. This is because they believed that the purpose of government is to secure these rights, such as the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Option A, states, may seem like a possible answer because the Declaration of Independence was written during a time when the US was composed of individual states. However, the authors believed that a strong central government was necessary to protect natural rights, not just the states. Option B, the people, may also seem like a possible answer since the Declaration emphasizes the importance of the people's consent for a government to be legitimate. However, it is the government's role to enforce and protect these natural rights on behalf of the people. Option D, foreign entities, is not mentioned in the Declaration as being responsible for protecting natural rights. Overall, the correct answer is C, government.