What is the core idea of the principle of popular sovereignty?

What is the core idea of the principle of popular sovereignty?

• A. The people hold the authority to govern; governments derive their power from the consent of the governed.
• B. The president holds all governmental power.
• C. The states hold all the power in the country.
• D. The courts determine all public policy.

Answer: (A)

Popular sovereignty means that authority rests with the people, not with a ruler or a single branch of government. Governments get their power from the consent of the governed, which happens when people vote, participate, and hold leaders accountable. This idea underpins democratic systems: the people authorize government through elections and can withdraw that consent by changing leaders or policies. The other descriptions place power in one institution or level or ignore the people’s role, which contradicts the principle that legitimacy comes from the people’s consent.

Popular sovereignty means that authority rests with the people, not with a ruler or a single branch of government. Governments get their power from the consent of the governed, which happens when people vote, participate, and hold leaders accountable. This idea underpins democratic systems: the people authorize government through elections and can withdraw that consent by changing leaders or policies. The other descriptions place power in one institution or level or ignore the people’s role, which contradicts the principle that legitimacy comes from the people’s consent.