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Difficulty: HardSovereignty: Concept, Types, Characteristics, and Limitations

In a constitutional parliamentary democracy, parliament possesses supreme constitutional authority to enact and repeal any law. However, parliament remains continuously constrained by the risk of electoral defeat, as the ultimate power to compel government policy rests with the voting populace. Which type of sovereignty is directly exercised by the voting populace in this context?

  1. Political sovereigntyAnswer
  2. B
    Legal sovereignty
  3. C
    De facto sovereignty
  4. D
    External sovereignty

Answer

Political sovereignty is the ultimate authority exercised by the electorate, which holds the legal sovereign accountable through periodic elections and public opinion.
Political sovereignty refers to the ultimate power vested in the electorate. Although legal sovereignty is held by parliament, the electorate holds the political power to elect, influence, or replace representatives.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the entity being evaluated in the scenario.
The voting populace (electorate) exercising influence over law-makers via elections.
The question asks specifically for the type of sovereignty directly exercised by the voting populace.
2
Distinguish between legal and political sovereignty.
Parliament holds legal sovereignty (supreme law-making power), while the electorate holds political sovereignty (the ultimate authority behind the law-makers).
Political sovereignty is the practical electoral power that backs and constrains legal sovereignty in democratic systems.

Key Concept

Distinguishing Political Sovereignty from Legal, De Facto, and External Sovereignty
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Topics

Sovereignty: Concept, Types, Characteristics, and Limitations

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