Popular sovereignty
U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) glossary · Civics
Definition
The people hold the highest power.
Popular sovereignty in plain English
"Sovereignty" just means the highest, final power to rule. "Popular sovereignty" says that power belongs to the people, not to a king or a small group at the top. In the U.S. system, the government only has authority because citizens hand it that authority through voting, and they can take it back at the next election. Think of it like the owners of a company hiring managers to run things day-to-day: the managers have real power, but the owners are the real boss and can replace them.
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