What idea states that government gets its power from the people?

• A. Popular Sovereignty
• B. Federalism
• C. Separation of Powers
• D. Checks and Balances

Answer: (A)

Popular sovereignty is the idea that the government’s authority comes from the people. In the United States, this is shown by “We the People” in the Constitution and by the power of citizens to vote, elect representatives, and influence or change government through elections and amendments. This principle says legitimate authority rests on the consent of the governed, not on force or hereditary rule.

Federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances are important ways the government is organized and restrained, but they describe how power is distributed and limited rather than where that authority originates. Popular sovereignty stays at the center by asserting that the people are the source of the government’s power.