According to the declaration of independence governments receive their authority and power from

According to the declaration of independence governments receive their authority and power from the "citizens" or general populus, since American was founded on the principle of popular sovereignty, in which government is ultimately answerable to the people who elect its representatives. 

Sovereignty resides with the people, or the citizens/electorate :)

Upon the fall of rome, europe ceased being influenced by the cultures of the mediterranean coast and was more influenced by germanic tribal confederations that had already taken over vast swathes of roman territory, although the influence of rome on the former empire was very strong in legal