This grievance refers to the British government's actions of suspending the legislatures of the American colonies and declaring themselves with the power to legislate for the colonies in all cases. This was seen as a violation of the colonies' right to self-governance. By taking away the power of the colonies' governments, the British were undermining the autonomy and rights of the colonists, which contributed significantly to the desire for independence and the eventual declaration of independence from England. Jefferson's wording in the Declaration of Independence highlights the importance of self-governance and the belief that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed.