According to the Declaration of Independence, if a government fails to protect the rights of its citizens, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it. The specific passage states: "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government." This implies that the people have the authority to replace such a government with a new one that will ensure their rights and welfare.
