<P> The last article of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was adopted on 26 August 1789 by the National Constituent Assembly, during the period of the French Revolution, as the first step toward writing a constitution for France . Inspired by the Enlightenment, the original version of the Declaration was discussed by the representatives on the basis of a 24 article draft proposed by the sixth bureau, led by Jérôme Champion de Cicé . The draft was later modified during the debates . A second and lengthier declaration, known as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1793, was written in 1793 but never formally adopted . </P> <P> The concepts in the Declaration come from the philosophical and political duties of the Enlightenment, such as individualism, the social contract as theorized by the Genevan philosopher Rousseau, and the separation of powers espoused by the Baron de Montesquieu . As can be seen in the texts, the French declaration was heavily influenced by the political philosophy of the Enlightenment and principles of human rights as was the U.S. Declaration of Independence which preceded it (4 July 1776). </P> <P> The declaration is in the spirit of "secular natural law", which does not base itself on religious doctrine or authority, in contrast with traditional natural law theory, which does . </P> <P> The declaration defines a single set of individual and collective rights for all men . Influenced by the doctrine of natural rights, these rights are held to be universal and valid in all times and places . For example, "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights . Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good ." They have certain natural rights to property, to liberty, and to life . According to this theory, the role of government is to recognize and secure these rights . Furthermore, government should be carried on by elected representatives . </P>

Read the following excerpt from the declaration of rights of man and the citizen