Which concept asserts that political authority derives from the people?

• A. Absolute monarchy
• B. Popular sovereignty
• C. Liberal democracy
• D. Federalism

Answer: (B)

Popular sovereignty means political authority comes from the people. The government’s legitimacy rests on the consent of the governed, which we express through elections, constitutions, and ongoing civic participation. This idea goes back to social contract thinking: rulers derive their power because the people allow it, and they can revoke that permission if the government fails to serve them. That’s why modern states often emphasize “We the People” and hold elections to authorize leaders and policies. Absolute monarchy assigns authority to a ruler by hereditary or divine-right claims, not by the people’s consent. Federalism deals with how power is shared between levels of government, not where authority originates. Liberal democracy practices popular sovereignty through protections for rights and mechanisms for citizen participation, but the central claim that political authority originates with the people is captured most directly by popular sovereignty.