Which principle holds that government derives its authority from the people?

Which principle holds that government derives its authority from the people?

• A. Divine right
• B. Monarchy
• C. Direct democracy
• D. Popular sovereignty

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is that a government gets its authority from the people, meaning its legitimacy rests on the consent of the governed. This principle, popular sovereignty, says rulers derive power only because citizens participate, vote, and agree to be governed. It underpins how elections, laws, and public offices work—the people authorize leadership and set the terms of governance. Divine right rejects this by saying rulers derive authority from God, not from the people. Monarchy describes a system of rule often rooted in hereditary succession, which can exist with or without popular consent, but it doesn’t itself define where authority comes from. Direct democracy is a method of decision-making where citizens vote directly on laws; it demonstrates popular sovereignty in action, but the core idea—that authority comes from the people—remains described by popular sovereignty itself. So the best answer is that concept, because it directly captures the source of governmental authority as the consent of the governed.

The main idea being tested is that a government gets its authority from the people, meaning its legitimacy rests on the consent of the governed. This principle, popular sovereignty, says rulers derive power only because citizens participate, vote, and agree to be governed. It underpins how elections, laws, and public offices work—the people authorize leadership and set the terms of governance.

Divine right rejects this by saying rulers derive authority from God, not from the people. Monarchy describes a system of rule often rooted in hereditary succession, which can exist with or without popular consent, but it doesn’t itself define where authority comes from. Direct democracy is a method of decision-making where citizens vote directly on laws; it demonstrates popular sovereignty in action, but the core idea—that authority comes from the people—remains described by popular sovereignty itself.

So the best answer is that concept, because it directly captures the source of governmental authority as the consent of the governed.