Popular Sovereignty

From AI Overview: 

Popular sovereignty is the principle that a government’s power is created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political authority. Rooted in American constitutional law and the idea of "We the People," it implies that government exists to serve the citizens, who hold ultimate authority to choose their representatives.

Key Principles and Aspects
- Consent of the Governed: Government legitimacy depends on the approval of the people.
- Source of Power: All political power is derived from the people, rather than from a monarch or, in the US case, exclusively from the states.
- Accountability: Leaders are accountable to the citizens and can be removed through elections,, recalls, or impeachment.
- Constitutional Basis: In the U.S., the Constitution is the supreme legal expression of this, ensuring that power is delegated by the people, not inherent in government, as mentioned in this YouTube video.

Historical and Contextual Applications
- American Revolution: Popular sovereignty emerged as a rejection of the divine right of kings and British monarchical rule.
- 19th Century Expansion of Slavery: The term was controversially applied in the U.S. to allow settlers in new territories to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery, a policy heavily associated with Stephen A. Douglas. This was central to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which led to violent conflicts.

Limitations and Challenges
- Implementation Conflicts: As seen in "Bleeding Kansas," allowing territorial residents to vote on slavery created intense, violent conflict rather than a peaceful resolution.
- Defining "The People": Historically, the definition of who was included in "the people" with voting rights was restrictive.
- Potential for Tyranny: While democratic in nature, some critics argue that popular sovereignty could be used to justify the suppression of minority rights by a majority.