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Difficulty: MediumIdeals of Democracy

In the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), Section 2 states:

"That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them."

Which of the following statements best explains how the excerpt reflects a foundational concept of American democracy?

  1. A
    Pluralist democracy is reflected because the passage argues that power is divided among competing interest groups to prevent any single faction from dominating.
  2. Popular sovereignty is reflected because the passage asserts that all political power originates from the citizens and that public officials are accountable to them.Answer
  3. C
    Elite democracy is reflected because the passage implies that a small, wealthy class of trustees should make decisions on behalf of the public.
  4. D
    Natural rights are reflected because the passage emphasizes that individuals possess inherent liberties that the government cannot legally infringe upon.

Answer

Popular sovereignty is reflected because the passage asserts that all political power originates from the citizens and that public officials are accountable to them.
The statement regarding popular sovereignty is correct because the excerpt states that "all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people." This is the core definition of popular sovereignty—the belief that the ultimate authority of a government is created and sustained by the consent of its people. Furthermore, the description of magistrates as "trustees and servants" who are "amenable to them" highlights the accountability of government representatives to the citizenry.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source and context of the quote.
The quote is from Section 2 of the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) and discusses where political power is vested (in the people) and the nature of public officials (as trustees and servants).
Identifying the context and main subject of the text helps link it to the correct democratic principles.
2
Evaluate the key terms in the excerpt against the definitions of democratic ideals.
The phrase 'power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people' points directly to the principle that authority comes from the governed. The phrase 'magistrates are their trustees and servants' emphasizes that representatives are agents of the people.
Breaking down the specific phrasing connects the text to formal constitutional concepts.
3
Select the option that correctly matches the concept of popular sovereignty while ruling out incorrect models of democracy.
Popular sovereignty is the doctrine that sovereign power is vested in the people. The excerpt matches this definition, distinguishing it from pluralism, elitism, or the distinct concept of natural rights.
This step allows us to identify the correct explanation and reject the distractors.

Key Concept

Popular sovereignty is the foundational democratic principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Ideals of Democracy

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