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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdeals of Democracy

In the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, the document states:

'All power residing originally in the people, and being derived from them, the several magistrates and officers of government, vested with authority, whether legislative, executive, or judicial, are their substitutes and agents, and are at all times accountable to them.'

Which of the following core democratic ideals is most directly expressed in this passage?

  1. A
    Natural rights
  2. Popular sovereigntyAnswer
  3. C
    Limited government
  4. D
    Elite democracy

Answer

Popular sovereignty
The correct answer is popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty is the democratic principle that political power is derived from and sustained by the consent of the people. The Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 illustrates this concept by declaring that 'all power' resides in the people, and that government officials are merely 'substitutes and agents' who must remain 'accountable to them.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical text for key political terms and arguments.
The text states that all government power resides originally in and is derived from the people, and that government officials act as agents who are accountable to them.
This establishes the core theme of the passage, which focuses on the source of political authority.
2
Match the core theme of the passage with the definitions of key democratic ideals.
The idea that political authority belongs to the citizens and that the government derives its power from the consent of the governed matches the definition of popular sovereignty.
Popular sovereignty represents the principle that the people rule and are the ultimate source of power.
3
Select the option that represents this matched concept.
The concept of popular sovereignty is represented by the correct choice.
Confirming the match yields the correct answer.

Key Concept

Popular sovereignty is the foundational democratic ideal asserting that ultimate political power lies with the people, meaning that governments are only legitimate if they operate with the consent and accountability of the governed.
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Topics

Ideals of Democracy

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