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Difficulty: MediumLegitimacy: Meaning, Determinants, and Maintenance

During a political reform, a government submits its proposed constitution to a nationwide public referendum for ratification before implementation. This process serves as a primary determinant of political legitimacy because it derives authority from which of the following sources?

  1. Popular consent and legal-rational proceduresAnswer
  2. B
    Coercive state capacity and military oversight
  3. C
    Traditional customs and ancestral rights
  4. D
    Charismatic authority and personal devotion

Answer

Popular consent and legal-rational procedures
Political legitimacy is the general acceptance of a governing regime's right to exercise authority. A public referendum validates legal-rational authority by securing the explicit consent of the governed through established democratic procedures.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the referendum process described in the stem.
A referendum allows citizens to vote directly on constitutional adoption.
Referendums demonstrate public approval and adherence to codified legal processes.
2
Identify the type and source of legitimacy generated by this process.
The authority is derived from democratic consent and formal legal mechanisms (legal-rational legitimacy).
Legitimacy is maintained when governance aligns with popular acceptance and constitutional norms.

Key Concept

Legitimacy: Meaning, Determinants, and Maintenance
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Topics

Legitimacy: Meaning, Determinants, and Maintenance

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