U.S. Citizenship Civics TestPrinciples of American DemocracyMedium
A civics student is learning about the foundational principles of American democracy. They are asked to identify a core concept that emphasizes that the government's authority comes from the consent of the governed. Which principle are they describing?
- AJudicial Review
- BPopular Sovereignty
- CFederal Supremacy
- DExecutive Privilege
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Popular Sovereignty
Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Judicial review is the power of courts to determine if laws are constitutional, not about consent of the governed.
- C. Federal supremacy refers to federal law overriding state law when there is a conflict, not the source of governmental authority.
- D. Executive privilege is the right of the president to withhold information from other government branches, not related to the people's consent.
Popular Sovereignty
Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political power.
- Expressed in the Preamble: 'We the People'.
- Implies that the people hold ultimate power.
- Exercised through voting and participation in government.
Memory trick: Popular Sovereignty: The people's voice is the ultimate choice for authority.