The Declaration of Independence expresses four principles of government:

1. All people are created equal: The Declaration states that "all men are created equal" and that this is a self-evident truth. This principle asserts that no one person or group is inherently superior to another and that everyone should be treated fairly and justly.

2. All people have basic rights that cannot be taken away: The Declaration also asserts that people are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". This principle asserts that everyone has certain fundamental rights that cannot be taken away by any government or authority.

3. The government gets its power to make decisions and protect rights from the people: The Declaration states that "governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed". This principle asserts that the governments power comes from the people it governs and that the governments role is to protect the rights of its citizens.

4. When the government does not protect the rights of the people, the people have the right to alter or abolish the government: The Declaration asserts that "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government". This principle asserts that the people have the right to change or remove their government if it fails to protect their rights.