By Rasmussen Reports:

Just 28% Say Federal Government Has Consent of Governed

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Most voters still feel there’s a disconnect between themselves and Congress, but they appear a bit more confident that members of Congress can outperform the average Joe.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 28% believe the federal government today has the consent of the governed. But that’s up seven points from this time last year when 21% felt that way. In the latest survey, 55% say the government does not have the consent of the governed, while 17% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The founding document of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, states that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.â€