WEST-E Social Studies Practice Test

What is the fundamental belief of popular sovereignty?

1. Government power is derived from the citizens

2. Government is a divine right

3. Citizens should endure maximal control by lawmakers

4. Government authority is inherited

The correct answer is: Government power is derived from the citizens

The fundamental belief of popular sovereignty is that government power is derived from the citizens. This principle asserts that the legitimacy of a government comes from the consent and will of the people it governs. In a system that values popular sovereignty, the authority of the government is established through the citizens' collective agreement, often expressed through voting and civic participation. This concept emerged prominently during the Enlightenment and was a foundational idea in the development of democratic systems, especially in the United States, where the Declaration of Independence emphasizes that governments are instituted among men to secure their rights, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. This belief contrasts significantly with ideas such as divine right, which claim that authority comes from a higher power, or notions of inherited government authority, where power is passed down through family lines. Additionally, the idea that citizens should endure maximal control by lawmakers runs counter to the essence of popular sovereignty, which supports the empowerment and active participation of citizens in governance.