Declaration of the Rights of Man

Which of the Articles BEST supports the idea that people must be informed of the laws before they are accused of breaking them?

• 6. Law is the expression of the desires of the people. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in the process of lawmaking. The law must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens are equal in the eyes of the law, and, therefore, equally eligible for all jobs and positions in society, according to their abilities.

• 8. The law shall only allow for punishments that are strictly necessary. No one shall suffer a punishment unless he has broken a law that was passed and well known beforehand.

• 9. All persons are held innocent until they are declared guilty. If an arrest shall be deemed necessary, it shall be carried out in a way that avoids any unnecessary harshness.

• 11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for any abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law.

According to the declaration, a government must be organized, and its laws must be enforced fairly in order for it to be respected.

Which of the Articles BEST supports this idea?

• 1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions should only be made between them if those distinctions serve the general good.

• 3. Just rule comes only from the nation. No other organization or individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.

• 10. No one shall be harassed or mistreated on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided that they do not disturb the public order.

• 16. A society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all.

What is the relationship between the following Articles from the declaration?

Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else. Therefore, the natural rights of each man have no limits except those which protect the rights of other members of society, and these limits can only be determined by law.

Law can only prohibit actions that are hurtful to society. Nothing may be prevented that is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not required by law.

Since property is a sacred right, no one shall be deprived of it except where public necessity, legally determined, shall clearly demand it. In such cases, the owner shall have previously and fairly been paid for the property.

• They all support the idea that the government can take away individual rights if it pays for them.

• They all support the idea that there are absolutely no limits on the natural and sacred rights of individuals.

• They all state that people have a right to keep their property and the government cannot take it from them.

• They all state that the law cannot take individual freedoms unless it is for the good and safety of society.

What does the word "sole" mean as used in the following context?

The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believe that ignoring or disrespecting the rights of man is the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments. They have therefore determined to set forth a declaration of the natural and sacred rights of man.

• the undersurface of a person's foot

• a marine flatfish

• one and only

• the floor of a ship's cabin or cockpit

What clues best let the reader know that this use of sole means "one and only"

The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believe that ignoring or disrespecting the rights of man is the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments. They have therefore determined to set forth a declaration of the natural and sacred rights of man.

• the fact that the passage isn't about a ship, a person's foot, or fish

• "representatives of the French people?

• "is the sole cause"

• "to set forth a declaration"

What does the word "right" mean as used in the following context?

Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else. Therefore, the natural rights of each man have no limits except those which protect the rights of other members of society, and these limits can only be determined by law.

• that which is morally correct, just, or honorable

• a moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way

• the right-hand part, side, or direction

• a group or party favoring conservative views

What clues best let the reader know that this use of right means "a moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way."

Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else. Therefore, the natural rights of each man have no limits except those which protect the rights of other members of society, and these limits can only be determined by law.

• "liberty," "freedom," and "natural"

• "natural rights"

• "no limits"

• "limits determined by law"

What does the word "excercise" mean as used in the following context?

Just rule comes only from the nation. No other organization or individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.

• activity requiring physical effort, carried out to improve health and fitness

• a process or activity carried out for a specific purpose

• to use or apply a right or process

• occupy the thoughts of; worry or perplex

What clues best let the reader know that this use of exercise means "use or apply (a right or process)."

Just rule comes only from the nation. No other organization or individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.

• "organization or individual" and "authority"

• "may exercise"

• "rule comes only from the nation"

• "proceed directly from the nation"

Based on the article, what was the MAIN action by the King of France that contributed to the change in perspective?

• He supported independence for Americans.

• He sent soldiers to fight in the Seven Years' War.

• He increased taxes for the common people to help pay debt from the war.

• He allowed the aristocracy to live in luxury when the common people were suffering.