What is the principle that government derives its power from the consent of the governed?

The principle that government derives its power from the consent of the governed is known as popular sovereignty. This concept emphasizes that the authority of a government is established and maintained by the agreement and approval of its people. In democratic systems, it implies that citizens have the ultimate say in governmental decisions and policies, as they elect representatives to act on their behalf and have the right to influence those in power through voting and civic engagement.

This idea is foundational to democratic governance, reflecting the belief that legitimate government must serve the will of its people. Popular sovereignty is entrenched in various historical documents and is one of the key principles shaping modern democratic thought.

In contrast to popular sovereignty, federalism relates to the distribution of power between national and state governments, checks and balances involve ensuring that no single branch of government becomes too powerful, and separation of powers refers to dividing government responsibilities among different branches to prevent abuses of power. Each of these concepts supports the functioning of a government that operates with the consent of the governed but does not directly define the principle of deriving power from the people.