The preamble to the U.S. Constitution expresses several key ideas about the power of government:

• The power of government derives from "We the People," meaning it is empowered by the consent of the governed rather than from a monarch or external authority

• The government is established to "form a more perfect Union," "establish Justice," "insure domestic Tranquility," "provide for the common defense," "promote the general Welfare," and "secure the Blessings of Liberty," indicating its responsibility to protect people's rights and welfare rather than to control their lives

• The preamble reflects the principle that government power is limited and based on the consent of the people, not absolute or arbitrary

Regarding the specific statements in your query:

• "The government has a responsibility to protect people’s rights, not to control their lives." - This aligns with the preamble's purpose to secure liberty and promote welfare

• "A government is empowered by the consent of the governed." - This is explicitly stated by the phrase "We the People," which signifies that government power comes from the people’s consent

The following statements are not supported by the preamble:

• "If the government abuses its power, people’s natural rights are taken away." - While the preamble implies government is to protect rights, it does not explicitly address abuse of power or natural rights being taken away.
• "Great Britain has always upheld the natural rights of the colonists." - This is historically inaccurate and not stated in the preamble.
• "Government’s power comes from the creator." - The preamble does not mention divine authority as the source of government power.

Summary: The correct statements about the power of government according to the preamble are:

• The government has a responsibility to protect people’s rights, not to control their lives.
• A government is empowered by the consent of the governed.