Question

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

In modern political theory, government authority is sustained by the consent of the governed. Which type of sovereignty asserts that supreme power and ultimate political authority reside in the general electorate or citizens of a state?

  1. Popular sovereigntyAnswer
  2. B
    Legal sovereignty
  3. C
    De facto sovereignty
  4. D
    Confederal sovereignty

Answer

Popular sovereignty
Popular sovereignty is the foundational doctrine that the legitimacy and supreme authority of the state are created and sustained by the consent of its people, who express their sovereign will primarily through elections.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the question stem to identify the holder of ultimate authority
The stem describes supreme power vested in the general electorate or citizens.
Determining where sovereignty is located distinguishes between legal, political, and popular dimensions of sovereignty.
2
Match the description to the correct type of sovereignty
Popular sovereignty directly defines authority residing in the general populace.
This is distinct from legal sovereignty, which resides in the legislature or law-making institution.

Key Concept

Popular sovereignty locates supreme political authority in the citizens or electorate of a state.
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