Final answer:
A government's main job, as stated by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, is to secure the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, deriving its power from the consent of the governed. If the government fails in this duty, the people have the right to overthrow it and establish a new one.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, the main job of a government is to secure rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These inalienable rights are considered fundamental and inherent to all individuals.
The government's power comes from the consent of the governed, highlighting the social contract between the people and their rulers. This means that a government is legitimate only so long as it serves the purpose of protecting these rights. Drawing on the ideas of John Locke, the Declaration insists that if a government fails to protect these rights or becomes abusive, the people have not just the right, but the duty to overthrow it and establish a new government.