Which principle holds that ultimate political power resides in the people?

Which principle holds that ultimate political power resides in the people?

• A. Federalism
• B. Checks and balances
• C. Popular Sovereignty
• D. Limited Government

Answer: (C)

Popular sovereignty is the idea that ultimate political power rests with the people. In a democracy, government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed, expressed through votes, participation, and the ability to choose or remove leaders. The Constitution even emphasizes this by beginning with “We the People,” signaling that sovereignty resides in the people rather than in a ruler or a rigid system. This concept explains why citizens have a say in who governs and how laws are made and changed. The other ideas describe how power is organized rather than where it ultimately comes from. Federalism concerns the division of power between national and state governments; checks and balances describe how each branch can limit the others; limited government focuses on restricting what government can do. These are important structural features, but they don’t pinpoint the source of political authority—that source is the people themselves.

Popular sovereignty is the idea that ultimate political power rests with the people. In a democracy, government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed, expressed through votes, participation, and the ability to choose or remove leaders. The Constitution even emphasizes this by beginning with “We the People,” signaling that sovereignty resides in the people rather than in a ruler or a rigid system. This concept explains why citizens have a say in who governs and how laws are made and changed.

The other ideas describe how power is organized rather than where it ultimately comes from. Federalism concerns the division of power between national and state governments; checks and balances describe how each branch can limit the others; limited government focuses on restricting what government can do. These are important structural features, but they don’t pinpoint the source of political authority—that source is the people themselves.